Emma Harold, Kate Wasyluk and Beccy Rutter, Emma's sister.
Ipswich: Where’s the justice - Brother’s anger at decision to allow his sister’s killer out on day release
BY LIZZIE PARRY
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
3:00 PM
IPSWICH: Facing today’s anniversary of his sister’s death, Remy Wasyluk has spoken of his anger at the injustice of her killer being allowed out on day release during the SAME week.
Remy Wasyluk, Kate's brother is angry at the injustice of his sister's killer being allowed out on day releaseOn February 21, 2009 Kate Wasyluk, 25, and her friend Emma Harold, 26, were killed by disqualified drink-driver Scott Nicholls.
Twenty years old at the time of the horrific crash, Nicholls had consumed a cocktail of drink and drugs when his speeding car crashed into the pair as they walked home from a night out at St Clement’s Sports and Social Club in Foxhall Road.
His third victim, Emma’s younger sister Beccy, who was 25 at the time, suffered life-threatening injuries, fighting to survive in hospital before a gruelling period of rehabilitation and learning to walk again.
Nicholls was sentenced to eight years detention after admitting death by dangerous driving. But Ipswich Crown Court heard in September 2009, Nicholls was deemed to have mental health issues, after assessments by psychiatrists, meaning he was sent to serve his sentence in a mental hospital rather than prison.
Mr Wasyluk, 30, of Crouch End, London, said he and his parents Dot Richardson and Leon Wasyluk were informed by the probation service of Nicholls’ day release on February 10.
The letter states: “We have been notified by hospital staff that the offender SN has been granted leave for a period of time, one day next week.
“This will take place at a venue which is over 20 miles distant from Ipswich.”
Reacting to the ill-timed news, Mr Wasyluk questioned why Nicholls is deemed suitable for day release but not fit to serve his sentence in prison.
He said: “At a time when as a family we facing the third year anniversary of Kate and Emma being killed by Scott Nicholls’ thoughtless stupidity, we receive a letter telling us how he is to be let out from hospital for a day release in Suffolk.
“The so-called specialists deem him to be of ill health and unable to serve his time in prison and instead in a mental health hospital. However, they allow him the compassion of day release.
“In the case of my sister, she will never have the choice to spend a day with family and it appalls me that Scott Nicholls will likely be released next spring without serving any of his sentence in prison.
“From 2013, he’ll be free to move on with his life, something that my family will never be able to fully move on from. He took two lives and destroyed many more.”
Mrs Richardson, who lives in Chelmondiston, added: “If he is well enough for day release he is well enough to go to prison.”
n Do you think Nicholls’ sentence is tough enough? Write to Your Letters, Ipswich Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or e-mail starletters@archant.co.uk
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15 comments
This is outrageous. If I remember correctly from the original reporting of the incident Scott Nicholls had a plethora of previous convictions, was already banned from driving, and had therefore had ample opportunity to seek help for his mental health (which he had never previously mentioned as a defence) drug and alcohol issues. As other posters have mentioned, the families and victims of this crime will never get a day off from what this man has done. Why should he? He chose to take a car without consent whilst under the influence of drugs and alcohol, and shoul therefore accept responsibility for the irreparable harm he has caused to so many lives.
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Emmy Lou
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
@mick budinger. Maybe when your able to write a coherent comment that goes someway to makeing sense, they may keep your comments on the board. As for the sentence, I think it's a typical 'do gooders' decision. They always take the side of the perpetrator, never consider the victim. They make sure he's cared for in everyway, and all paid for by the tax payer. Personally, I'd give him life, and mean life. Again a drain on those who work and contribute to the community. I think the case should be reviewed and his sentence doubled.
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Richard Grueber
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
British justice doesn't deliever for the victims full stop. here in Florida USA expect a tough sentence in a tough jail !!
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don wilson
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
British justice doesn't deliever for the victims full stop. here in Florida USA expect a tough sentence in a tough jail !!
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don wilson
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
I have one other comment,I know my views may offend the upper classes.But I tell no lies,there for,when my comments are removed.besides telling me they are not allowed also tell me why.Or is the freedom of speech just a myth!
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Mick Budinger
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
My opinion.Its time the governments,law lords,judges and magistrates of this country take a reality check.And start to think about the human rights of victims of crime,and make the punishment fit the crime. This man was not mentally sick when he was disqualified,he was not mentally sick when he got drunk,then without a thought for others got into a one and half ton bullet and mowed these young women down.These could have been any ones family,so it affects us all. His actions were tantamount to murder,he should be serving a much longer sentence with hard labour. Our justice system is one big joke all over the world.
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Mick Budinger
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
It seems so unfair..he committed this crime and should pay ...He has now been given a day's leave ....perhaps to be with his family...The poor girl he killed cant have a day's leave with HER family...where is the justice ...
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ukmartian
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Dispicable news. The original sentence was insulting enough as it was, to hear that he's managed to wig off even going to jail is another thing and the cherry on the cake letting him out for a nice walk round Suffolk. Sickening. Miss you Em :(
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evilweazel
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The mental health services and crown court have got this decision wrong. The sentence makes light of the seriousness of his crime and the fact that his actions have left two innocent women dead and two families robbed of the people they love most. The other posts on here reflect the public outrage at this decision and the incredible insensitivity of the timing. The relevant authorities should have the courage to acknowledge the depth of public sentiment on this issue and review their decision.
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kieran scott
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
kill with a gun,knife,poison or manually you get life kill with a motor vehicle short sentence. the law needs change all my work colleagues and myself lost a dear friend and colleague to a disqualified driver and he just got 18 months. i worked with her father at the time she was born and remember his delight but i cannot bgein to imagine his grief it was bad enough losing a friend my heart goes out to you leon and your family
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AndyG
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
..
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bilooney
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
8 years is already too light a sentence for his deliberate act of driving while influenced. This is something that is regularly coming out of our unbalanced judicial system. When will the victim or victims family get the same justice as the perpetrator. I agree with Remy, how is it that SN is too mentally impaired to spend his life in prison but smart enough to attend day release. It's a farce, these decisions are being made by people who are detached from reality, It has to change.
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Big Spot
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Kate and Emma will never get "day release", why should he? A sentence should mean a sentence. He has not been imprisoned in case of the event that he may harm himself. Let him. Let him harm himself as much as he harmed those three girls.
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jeanette hewitt
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
He's taken two lives so should spend the rest of his in prison! Where is the justice in just eight years and out for day release.... what a disgrace!
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lesley harold
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
A disgrace 2 lives lost and so little time to punish the quilty person. 15 years would have been fair thats 15 years in jail not 7.5 years or 3 years. Punishment is something Britain is very weak on. Andy
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a west
Tuesday, February 21, 2012