Two passengers, who had been pleading with their d

Two passengers, who had been pleading with their driver
to slow down, were catapulted to their death as their out-of-control
car crashed into a tree and ‘split open like a sardine can’, an
Old Bailey judge said today (Friday).

The packed public gallery exploded with fury when
21-year-old motorist Brian Douglas was jailed for two years.

A woman burst into uncontrollable tears and relatives
of the dead passengers screamed ‘disgraceful’ and ‘it’s not
enough’ and swore at the judge, Mr Recorder David Cocks QC.

Douglas, unemployed, from the White City Estate, west
London, should never have been driving the car.

He already had a bad driving record and had previously
shown ‘contempt for the law’.

He was disqualified from driving for seven years.

The fatal accident happened on August 31, 1992, on a sharp
bend in South Africa Road, Queens Park, west London.

Douglas’ girlfriend had hired the Volkswagen two days
earlier – no doubt because he knew he would not have been allowed
to drive it with his record, said the judge.

The passengers killed were Kevin Baptiste, 22, and
23-year-old Corey Francis, both unemployed, from White City,
west London.

They had all been celebrating at a party.

After the crash Douglas, who was unhurt, at first pretended
that his girlfriend was the driver.

The judge said Douglas deliberately reached speeds up to
59 mph in the 30 mph zone and ignored his passengers’ pleas to
slow down.

‘It was speed that killed them,’ said the judge.

‘You went on a deliberate course of fast driving and when
your passengers asked you to slow down you disregarded them.

‘The car careered out of control and had been going
so fast that it split open like a sardine can.

‘It is a bad case and merits imprisonment.

‘
Before dying from his shocking injuries, Corey Francis told
police: ‘Douglas just lost control – the speed was just too fast.

‘
Douglas admitted two charges of causing death by reckless
driving and was jailed for two years.

The court heard that he had consumed alcohol but was not
over the legal limit.

ends