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'Every day is a living hell since our Finlay was killed by drink driver'
Justin Davenport, Crime Correspondent7 Jan 2009
THE mother of a toddler crushed to death against school gates by the 4x4 of a drink driver said today: "Every day is a living hell."
Tina Woods, 31, was speaking after a woman was jailed for seven years for causing the death of her 15-month-old son Finlay.
The boy was in his pushchair with his mother when a Toyota Hilux veered towards them outside Selwyn primary school in Chingford last September.
At the wheel was Katie Gutierrez-Perez, 40, who was driving to hospital after a failed suicide attempt and had binged on drink and sleeping pills.
Witnesses said that after the initial impact the 4x4 repeatedly rammed into the gates, each time crushing the pushchair, Snaresbrook crown court heard. Twenty parents and passers-by tried to lift the car off him but he died of severe head injuries.
Gutierrez-Perez wept as judge Timothy King jailed her, saying: "As far as the family are concerned, no sentence I impose today could be too long."
Mrs Woods said today: "I hope the woman who did this never forgets the pain and loss of life she has caused because we know we never can. Every day is a living hell."
She said she and her three other children who were with her at the time were "haunted by flashbacks" and that her youngest child wakes up screaming at night.
Mrs Woods added: "The sentence given out today will never make up for his death. In today's society people give excuses rather than take responsibility for their actions."
She revealed that Gutierrez-Perez had written her a letter but she could not bring herself to read it.
Mrs Woods's husband Roger, 31, a fitness instructor, said: "I don't want to read it. She should send it to her own kids." The judge quoted from a statement from Mrs Woods which read: "I have constant reminders of Finlay's short life - his toys, clothes and cot, which is still made up from the morning on 18 September."
He told Gutierrez-Perez: "I acknowledge that you have to live with Finlay's death on your conscience for the rest of your life, but your criminal behaviour that afternoon will have left its mark on this family for the rest of their lives."
Gutierrez-Perez, a divorced mother of two teenagers, lives a street away from the Woods family and ran a local café. She was understood to have been depressed over the collapse of her business and difficulties in her personal life. She had also had a furious row with her sister.
Mrs Woods was about to collect her two other children Livvy, seven, and Dillon, five. Her mother Linda and her other son Harvey, four, were with her, but were unhurt.
She told the court : "Harvey ran a few feet ahead so I went after him. The next thing I knew I had been hit from behind and thrown into a pillar. I screamed for Harvey and saw he was okay, then I looked round and saw the 4x4 wedged in the school gates.
"The woman driver was just ramming the car into the gates over and over again. We all screamed at her to stop but she ignored us. All the time Finlay was in the pram. It was getting more and more crushed."
Gutierrez-Perez had hit two parked cars before losing control outside the school. She was dragged from the driver's seat and asked: "Have I hurt someone then?"
She pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and driving without insurance at an earlier hearing. She was also disqualified from driving for 10 years.
Reader views (5)
judge Timothy King jailed her, saying: "As far as the family are concerned, no sentence I impose today could be too long." - So let's not even try... Way to go "Judge" Timothy King.
- Zady, london, 07/01/2009 22:45
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PATHETIC
Surely she deserved the 7 years for driving whilst uninsured, underthe influence etc;
- Craig, E17, 07/01/2009 18:14
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How terrible, the poor family.... she should be locked up for the rest of her life, they will never see their baby again!
- Chris, London, UK, 07/01/2009 16:55
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Yet another lenient sentence for killing while driving. She will be free in less than 4 years.
- Michael Boughton-Fox, CAMBRIDGE ENGLAND, 07/01/2009 16:38
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"No sentence I impose today could be too long."
"In today's society people give excuses rather than take responsibility for their actions."
Two sentences that sum up this dreadful act - 7 years for Katie Gutierrez-Perez just doesn't seem enough
- Dixon Kipretich, Ugley, Essex, 07/01/2009 15:50
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