Death crash driver walks free from court

Katherine Howard died at the scene when her car was hit, head-on, by another vehicle driven by 71-year-old Michael Challis.
The tragedy which claimed the life of Mrs Howard, an acclaimed playright and actress who had performed at the Edinburgh Fringe, happened just before 4pm on February 26 last year on Priors Court Road, Hermitage.
Challis had denied causing death by dangerous driving but was convicted by a jury at Reading Crown Court on October 14.
At a sentencing hearing on Tuesday, Judge Stephen John imposed a two year jail term, suspended for two years, and ordered Challis to meet his victim’s family in a restorative justice programme, if they so wished.
After the sentence was announced, Mrs Howard’s father Alan Gibbons said: "The wheels of justice have turned slowly and much emotion has been expended by our family during that time.
“Whatever his sentence, he has to live with the knowledge that he is guilty of taking the life of our dearest Katy and has inflicted a lifetime of pain and loss on all of us."
Pick up a copy of today's Newbury Weekly News for the full story.