'They've spat on Olivia's grave': Family’s anger as appeal against Shrewsbury driver’s sentence is denied
The family of an 11-year-old killed by a drunk driver in Shrewsbury have said the Solicitor General has ‘spat on her grave’ by refusing them leave to appeal his sentence.
In September, 77-year-old Roger Goodall, of The Mount, Shrewsbury, was jailed for four-and-a-half years for causing the death of Olivia-Violet Reeves.
The youngster was killed when Goodall’s out-of-control car hit her as she walked to catch the bus home from school.
Last Friday, Olivia-Violet’s family applied to the Solicitor General for permission to appeal the sentence, which they said was too lenient, but just a few days later they learned that they had been unsuccessful.
Now they have vowed to fight on to try and get a longer sentence imposed.
Olivia’s uncle, Simon Reeves, said: “This is not right. I am prepared to go to court to fight it.
“He is getting away with killing an 11-year-old girl.”
A spokesperson for the Solicitor General said: “The Solicitor General would like to offer his condolences to the family of Olivia Reeves, however, after careful consideration he has decided not to refer the sentence of Roger Goodall to the Court of Appeal.
“There are sentencing guidelines that judges must adhere to and in this case, the sentence given fell within the guidelines available for this offence.”
Mr Reeves added: “The Solicitor General can keep his condolences. We applied for leave to appeal last Friday, yet he has taken only a couple of days to make a decision. How can he have read all of the paperwork and reports to make such a ruling?”
At the court hearing, the family were told Goodall, 77, was given a reduced level two sentence for personal reasons but now argue it should have been dealt with as a level one crime.
Mr Reeves said: “He was pouring wine into water bottles. He weaponised the car.
“We have still not been told officially there will be no appeal. We have been told by the police.
"The Solicitor General has trampled and spat on her grave.”
Olivia-Violet, a pupil at St George’s School, was walking along Mytton Oak Road, Copthorne in June when Goodall’s Range Rover mounted the pavement and hit her.
