Jail time cut for woman in fatal smash
(CNS): The Cayman Islands Court of Appeal found that a judge had not given enough consideration to the personal mitigating circumstances of Anastasia Watson (24), who had killed her close friend in a road smash in 2015, when she had been handed a one-year prison term for causing death by careless driving. The panel cut the twelve-month term given to Watson to nine months, with the appeal court suggesting that the mitigation in the case was significant and should have led to a shorter sentence.
The higher court made the decision following submissions from defence attorney Amelia Fosuhene and crown counsel Scott Wainwright about the case. On reaching their conclusion that the sentence was too long, the judges also noted the inability to suspend sentences in such cases and raised the proposal that the law may need to be revisited.
Watson, who is from West Bay, admitted causing the crash, which happened in North Side in the Rum Point area three years ago. Kimberly Bush (23), who was in the front passenger seat, died at the scene in the crash when Watson, who was injured, lost control of the silver BMW she was driving and crashed into a concrete wall.
The cause of the crash was believed to be speed, as an accident re-constructionist said at the time of the smash the car was travelling at 80mph on the 50mph road.
Agreed…. what’s the difference?
She should have to serve 6 years like the guy that caused death by dangerous driving! Same thing! Poor Kim!
Having to live with knowing that you caused the death of your best friend is already pretty severe punishment
Nonsense. Guilt and shame are no comparison for decent jail time for being a criminal killer. Stop being an apologist for behaviour that destroys families.
BAAFOON! she killed someone. WTF!
yet another woman receiving leniency… ‘mitigating circumstances” or “female privilege”?
Didn’t you know, they want to be treated equal. But treated special too.
This is really outrageous. She killed another person through reckless driving. How is one year possibly too long? To the person who was in the courtroom, why don’t you explain the mitigating circumstances?
what if it was you and your friend … shit can happen buddy. just remember that
How is this possibly fair? kids get longer for smoking joints.
You got evidence to back that up, or just another fabricated “example”?
The maximum sentence for ganja possession in the Cayman Islands is 20 years’ imprisonment.
Is that so?
From the Misuse of Drugs Law, 2017 Revision
24. A person who contravenes this Law or any rule or regulation pursuant
thereto is, if no other penalty is specifically provided, liable on summary
conviction to a fine of one thousand dollars and to imprisonment for one year.
Hard Drugs (definition does not include ganja) have a penalty with a maximum of 15 years for a first offence.
Furthermore, my understanding is that ganja offenders in Cayman get an opportunity to avoid jail time and a criminal record by participating in the drug rehab programme.
Oh wow. I am no attorney the 20 year thing was all I ever knew. I am 6:12 pm. and I stand corrected. Thanks for the update.
You are most welcome. There
Is so much misinformation being spread as facts for dubious political purposes. Wonderful to know that you are interested in learning the real facts.
You are a rare gem.
Best regards,
Truthseeker
There’s numerous court reports and decisions reported right here on CNS, Compass and elsewhere. If you live in the community long enough here, you will learn of and get to know many who have languished in jail for 1-3 years and had their futures ruined by being caught and convicted with relatively small quantities of weed. Someone recently got let out after serving 9 months on a possession charge.
Thanks, I have been in Cayman for over 3 decades and I can’t recall a single case of anyone receiving a sentence of even a year for simple possession. Can you kindly provide an actual reference?
Wow……….
And why is that sentence to long?.. I’m not following this right. She was driving, at excessive speed, crashed and killed her friend. Killed her….she is dead..not coming back. She received a permanent sentence handed down by her careless friend. And this sentence is to long?
I call bullsh*t. How in the hell is this to long….how bout not long enough. I’ve seen them put people away for the same or less. She is no different than any of these folks. I feel bad for the families involved but this is absolutely crap.
I absolutely agree with 5.25pm. Driving at 80mph was a pretty good way to lose control of a car and cause serious injury or death. I’m not so sure the judges would have been so impressed by the “mitigating circumstances” had one of their children been the victim.
Oh. So you were at court? You heard what happened? You listened to the judgment ? No. You did not did you.
Unfortunately you only know about the headline this story and not the person who died or the person who was sentenced. As outraged as you are, you clearly know nothing about the law or why the court did what they did. Had you been in court you would have heard the arguments and full judgement of the court. Yet here you are sitting and whining about a young person who the court found deserved less prison time. You moan about it but have no idea why they came to that conclusion. So without knowing all the facts What makes you so perfect or qualified to judge her?
I was at court. I heard what they said and I understand exactly why they said it. If you were at court you might not be speaking from your position of ignorance.
I hope you enjoy your faultless, judgment free, perfect life. But if you are ever in trouble, I hope you find yourself before a judge who thinks like you.
To faultless at all. Doesn’t change anything.
Are you suggesting that if the writer knew the person who died she/he would support a shorter sentence? That only makes sense if one thinks the dead person was not worth sending someone to prison over. BTW, wasn’t the dead woman pregnant?
I bet if Kimberley was your sister you wouldn’t be ranting like this you pathetic POS! You need to shut up!
This girl walks around with no remorse! She should spend a long time in prison thinking about what she did! RIP Kim!
Driver was breathalyzed below legal limit. Defense claims she fell asleep at the wheel “blacking out” from something else which then put her foot down and accelerated the vehicle to 80mph and into the wall. Probably high driving, but RCIPS don’t currently test for that.
We have some very talented and imaginative defense lawyers here in Cayman. I know because I have worked and gone drinking with several of them.
Blacked out?! What about the fact that her passenger died?? Appeal this sentence DPP! Cop gets punched and dropped and was knocked out! You appealed the sentence! Kimberley is dead and nothing but a reduction?
Sweet Kim! Her family should sue for such an outrageous turn of events!