Parents disgusted at killer's 'lenient' sentence head (From Penarth Times)

Parents disgusted at killer's 'lenient' sentence head

THE parents of a Penarth teenager have spoken of their anguish at what the'lenient' sentence given to their son's killer.

Daryl Gronow, aged 20, was sentenced to six years in a young offenders institution after being convicted of the manslaughter of Craig Hopkins last August 14.

Craig was killed after Gronow drove his car into him and a group of friends, following a fight involving the two men earlier in the evening.

Gronow admitted manslaughter but was found not guilty of a murder charge, which he had denied.

Craig's father Gerald Hopkins, of Castle Avenue, said: "We're disgusted with the leniency of the sentence. They had just as well have set him free.

"He will probably end up serving around two and a half years if he is offered parole. It is a disgrace and an insult to us.

"This man aimed a car at our son and gets away with a six-year sentence. What kind of justice is that?

"It was only luck that prevented four people from being killed that night.

Gronow had not passed his driving test and was not insured to drive a car when he killed Craig in his Volkswagen Golf.

Craig's mum Andrea Hopkins said: "We are very angry and very bitter at the moment Three members of the jury cried when the sentence was read out.

"They knew as well as we did that an injustice had been done. We feel that the judge favoured the defendant in his summing up to the jury.

"Our lives have been devastated by the loss of our son. We still often find it hard to sleep at night.

"We hoped for justice to ease our pain but didn't get it.

"We feel the justice system favours the defendant. We have no right to appeal against this."

Gerald added: "In court Craig was made out to be the aggressor.

"After talking to so many people who were there on that night we know that he acted only in self-defence.

"We spent seven days listening to what a nice person the man who killed our son was. It was stomach-churning.

"Gronow will be able to get on with his life. He has no idea of what he has destroyed or how many lives he has turned upside down.

"Craig's girlfriend Donna had to visit a cemetery on Valentine's Day. She and all of Craig's friends have been terribly traumatised."

Craig's brother Carl, aged 23, said: "When I first saw Gronow in court I thought, what right have you got to take the person I spent my life growing up with away from me?