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Short-sighted motorist who killed pedestrian is not charged with murder

A driver who mowed down a dog-walker has been handed 140 hours of community service after it is revealed he is short-sighted.

A short-sighted driver who hadn’t worn his glasses for over a year ploughed into a dog-walker on a pedestrian crossing. Mohammed Rashid, 23, who is so short-sighted he can only read a registration plate from seven feet away, told police that he hadn’t worn his glasses for over a year because he didn’t know where they were.

Despite being the cause of Laurence Gunn’s death, Mr Rashid has not been charged for his murder, because he was not actually breaking the law by not wearing his glasses.

His short-sightedness resulted in him ploughing into and killing Mr Gunn, who was crossing the road in Hampstead, north London last year. According to witnesses, Mr Gunn, 32, was “hurled into the air” after being hit by the car, and landed on the other side of the road. 

Mr Rashid was handed community service by Judge Aiden Marron QC, who said Mr Rashid should have been more “prudent” but he was not actually breaking the law by not wearing his glasses. He said: “Everyone involved in this case knows it is an unmitigating tragedy involving the death of a young man and the deep anguish suffered by his family.”

He went on to say that Mr Rashid “was the cause of the death”, but he was “driving at a reasonable speed and the evidence suggests there was nothing unusual on the road surface.” He added that it would have been “desirable” for Mr Rashid to wear specs, but “there was nothing unlawful about that.” 

Instead, Mr Rashid has been sentenced to 140 hours of unpaid work, a driving disqualification for 12 months, eight points on his licence, and ordered to pay £500 prosecution costs. 

Defence barrister Jaqueline Vallejo said that Mr Rashid “wasn’t the same man” after the accident, and “for all intents and purposes he is a good lad.”

Do you think the driver should have been handed a bigger punishment? Do you think good eyesight whilst driving should be a legal requirement? Let us know by posting in the comments below. 

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