Woman who killed baby in crash has sentence cut

A woman who was jailed for killing an eight-month-old girl in a crash outside a hospital has had her sentence reduced.

Bridget Curtis admitted causing the death of Mabli Cariad Hall by dangerous driving outside Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, on 21 June 2023.

The 71-year-old was given a four-year sentence and disqualified from driving for eight years at Swansea Crown Court in January.

Following an appeal, three judges ruled her sentence was "manifestly excessive" and cut it to three years with a seven-and-a-half year driving ban, a decision Mabli's family said was disappointing.

"We are disappointed that there has been a reduction in the sentence but are glad that the Court of Appeal has agreed that the original conviction for a Category B offence was valid and the custodial sentence stands," the family said in a statement.

"We again thank everyone who has been part of the process to ensure justice for Mabli Cariad and for all the support we have received as a family. We still face a life sentence without her."

Curtis was at the hospital on the day of the collision with her daughter for an outpatient appointment, stopping the white BMW she was driving outside the building.

When her daughter struggled to find her handbag in the back of the car, Curtis unlocked the door and turned around to help her.

As she did so, she pressed on the accelerator while the car was still running and not in park mode, meaning it accelerated to a top speed of 29mph (47km/h).

She drove into Mabli, from Neath, who was in a pram next to her dad Robert Hall and his brother Stephen.

Mabli died from a severe traumatic brain injury at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children four days after the crash.

Curtis, who appeared via video link from HMP Eastwood Park in Gloucestershire, had no convictions at the time of the crash and had held a clean driving licence for more than 50 years.

At the Court of Appeal on Tuesday, her barrister said the sentence should be reduced, adding the case concerned a "lapse of concentration".

John Dye said Curtis, a mother-of-four and grandmother-of-10, was "absolutely devastated" by the incident.

Mr Justice Butcher, sitting with Lord Justice Bean and Judge Richard Marks KC, said it was a "truly tragic case".

Upon reducing the sentence Mr Butcher said that Curtis's remorse was "genuine".

No-one could "fail to sympathise" with the family for their "appalling loss," he added.

Mabli's mother Gwen Hall said her daughter was "so bright, so beautiful, so full of love and life".

"It was nowhere near the time for her to be taken away from us. She was my baby. My eight-month-old baby," she added.