A soldier who killed a teenage passenger in a car accident, just three weeks after his driving test was successful, was free from the court – which furiously staggered from the victim's family.
Laionie Kennard, 18, died when Joseph Pickett, 20, lost control of his new BMW 1 series and crashed in trees in Ringwood, Dorset.
Pickett had taken three friends home from a trip to McDonald's before the tragedy of September 2023 took place.
Although he admitted that Laionie's death span escaped, he escaped the prison sentence, so that her family demanded justice and shoots the decision not to place him behind bars.
Laionie sustained fatal head injury, while Pickett, his girlfriend Edy Herridge, 18, and friend William Green, also 18, sustained light injuries.
Pickett is an army private in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (REM).
His commander praised the soldier for his 'exemplary character' and told Magistrates that it would be the end of his career if he was imprisoned.
Pickett was given a conditional punishment of ten months after he was found guilty of accusing death caused by careless driving.
Laionie's destroyed family called Pickett “Mindless and Moranic” and said he should have went to prison.
The family of victim Laionie Kennard reacted with anger and called for justice as they saw Joseph Pickett, 20, the prison escapes. Shown: Joseph Pickett leaves Poole Magistrates Court after the conviction on January 29
Pickett took three friends home from a trip to McDonald's when he misjudges a speed corner, control over his new BMW 1 series and crashed in trees. Laionie Kennard (photo), 18, walked up fatal head injury and died on the spot
Laionie's destroyed family called Pickett 'Mindless and Moranic'. Her mother Kelly (left) told the court that she cannot tolerate now to leave her daughter's urn. Her father David (right), who rushed to the scene on the night of the crash, said that seeing the image of his daughter's body 'will haunt me forever'
Her mother Kelly told the court that she cannot tolerate it now to leave her daughter's urn and that her “beautiful outgoing girl is now ashes on a shelf.”
Her father David, who rushed to the scene on the night of the crash, said that seeing the image of his daughter's body will “chase me forever.”
He also told how he “could still taste the dirt” in his mouth where he had to be struggling on the ground by police officers to prevent him from coming to her.
Magistrates heard that Pickett was driving on Hurn Lane near Ringwood, Hants, when the crash took place on September 16, 2023.
Crash researchers estimate that he was driving between 43-54 MPH on the 30 MPH road at that time.
Pickett later told the police that he thought the road was the national speed limit.
Charles Nightingale, persecution, also told Poole Magistrates' Court that although Pickett had passed his driving test only three weeks earlier, he was an experienced motorcyclist and he did not succeed in seeing in different speed limit signs.
He said: “The suspect said he believed that the national speed limit applied, it makes no sense at all on that road where there is a national speed limit.
'He surpassed the speed that limits the entire journey, drove past all those signs in sight and simply ignored them.
District court Orla Austin said Pickett (center) had written her a letter that was a genuine expression of regret. She said: “He is extremely repentant and very regretted”
“There is no reason at all why this accident should happen if he had obeyed the speed limit.”
The court heard a number of moving victim impact statements from those closest to Laionia.
Laoinie's brother Deon said in a victim impact statement: “This should never have happened, it was easy to avoid.”
Mrs. Kennard, from Verwood, said in her statement that Laionie “was not only my daughter, but also my best friend” and she would not want to lose the pain of losing a child on anyone.
She said: 'My heart is broken forever, the pain is unbearable, it is a daily battle to get out of bed.
'I hate to leave the house for most days because I want to get home, was with Laionie's urn. My beautiful outgoing girl is now ashes on a shelf. '
Her best friend, Ella Thorne-Alcazar, said they were 'lifelong friends' and 'Soul Sisters'. She said, “I feel so empty without her.”
Shown: Joseph Pickett leaves Poole Magistrates Court in December 2024 after he admitted that he caused the death of a teenage passenger in a car accident
Kevin Hill, defensive, said Pickett had involved everywhere and had worked together and had no earlier convictions
He said: “He is someone who could be well said as an exemplary character, but for this violation. He was then 18. He took steps to improve himself and his driving.
“It is clear to see that he is someone who is highly regarded.”
District court Orla Austin said Pickett had written her a letter that was a sincere expression of regret.
“He is extremely repentant and very regretted,” she said.
“The most important factor was the speed, other factors were his lack of experience, lack of street lighting and the use of immersed bundle headlights,” she added.
The judge also said that she had read all the victim impact statements that were provided by friends and family of Laionie and “their grief and loss can be felt.”
She said to the court: 'It is clear that she was an exceptional young woman who touched the life of everyone who knew her.
“I recognize their courage and the in -depth emotional impact that this will have taken on them.”
The judge suspended Pickett's ten -month prison sentence for two years, ordered him to do 250 hours of unpaid work and pay £ 272 costs to the court.
She also forbade him to ride for two years.
Laionie, who worked an insurance clerk, was one of the four children – with brothers Deon, 21, Brandon, 16 and sister Charlotte, six.
The case emphasized the debate about whether the government should bring in new laws for beginning drivers who forbid them to give lifts to passengers.
Mrs. Kennard said they are throwing their weight behind the campaign.
Mrs. Kennard said: 'If (Pickett) had not had passengers in his car, he would not have driven the way he did.
“New drivers must have more experience behind them a few months, such as six months, where they just drive alone and get used to the car and the roads before they start having passengers.”
