A driver who was set to be sentenced for causing the death of an eight-month-old baby after crashing into her pram outside a hospital has been excused from court following a reported panic attack. Bridget Curtis, 70, was due to appear at Swansea Crown Court in November for her sentencing but failed to attend due to health issues. The court was later informed that Curtis had not suffered a heart attack, as previously suspected, but had instead experienced a panic attack, prompting the adjournment of the hearing.
Incident That Led to Baby’s Death
The tragic incident occurred in June 2023, when Curtis, of Begelly, Pembrokeshire, crashed her vehicle into the pram of eight-month-old Mabli Hall outside Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire. Despite the best efforts of medical staff, Mabli succumbed to her injuries four days later. She was described by her family as “the apple of their eye.”
Following the fatal crash, Curtis was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and subsequently pleaded guilty to the charge. The court had been scheduled to pass sentence in November, but Curtis’s failure to appear on the assigned date prompted concerns over her health, leading to the delay.
Panic Attack, Not Heart Attack
During a hearing at Swansea Crown Court on December 5, 2024, prosecutor Craig Jones clarified the circumstances surrounding Curtis’s absence from court. According to the documentation provided to the court, Curtis did not suffer from a heart attack or another serious cardiac event, as had been previously speculated, but had instead experienced what was described as a panic attack.
Jones emphasized that the delay had been caused by Curtis’s mental health condition, but he urged the court to proceed with sentencing as soon as possible. “Given the nature of the case, it is important that we move forward with sentencing at the earliest opportunity,” he said.
Mental Health Report to Be Considered
John Dye, the defense lawyer representing Curtis, informed the court that a more detailed mental health report would be necessary to provide a fuller understanding of the defendant’s state of mind. Dye explained that a psychiatrist would not be able to interview Curtis until after the New Year, with the full report expected to take another six to eight weeks to prepare.
Judge Geraint Walters expressed concern over the delays, stating that he was not prepared to adjourn the case for such an extended period. As a result, he set a new sentencing date for January 23, 2025, making it clear that further delays would not be acceptable given the gravity of the case.
Family’s Heartbreaking Loss
Mabli Hall, a young baby from Neath, died as a result of the collision outside the hospital in June 2023. Her family released a statement in the aftermath of her passing, describing the profound and ongoing pain of losing their child. “Our family life has been changed forever and to this day we are still trying to come to terms with what has happened,” the family said. “Every day is a day of pain for us, even now, but as parents we still have to give the love and support our other children need as they are still trying to come to terms with losing their baby sister.”
The Hall family’s grief has been compounded by the long wait for justice. The delay in sentencing has left the family, still mourning Mabli’s loss, struggling to find closure and a sense of justice in the case.
Curtis’s History and Legal Proceedings
Bridget Curtis, a former teacher, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving in a previous hearing. Her guilty plea came after a lengthy investigation into the circumstances of the crash, which revealed that she had struck the pram containing Mabli while maneuvering her car outside the hospital. The fatal collision occurred despite the area being marked as a hospital zone, and the incident was witnessed by several bystanders.
The case has sparked debates about road safety and the tragic consequences of dangerous driving, with many questioning the appropriateness of Curtis’s actions behind the wheel. In addition to her legal proceedings, Curtis’s mental health and overall fitness for standing trial have been focal points in the courtroom discussions.
Legal and Emotional Impact of Delays
The delay in sentencing has added another layer of emotional burden for the Hall family, who have expressed frustration over the extended wait for justice. Each postponement has delayed their ability to fully come to terms with their loss, leaving them in a state of limbo.
Legal experts have also raised concerns about the impact of such delays on both the victims’ families and the defendants involved in cases like these. While Curtis’s mental health is a legitimate concern, it has raised questions about the efficiency of the judicial system and whether more timely resolutions could be achieved in similarly sensitive cases.
For now, the Hall family waits for justice while they continue to mourn their beloved daughter, hoping that the new sentencing date will bring some semblance of closure to their unimaginable loss.
Sentencing Delayed Until January
As the legal process continues, the case will return to court on January 23, 2025. The court will proceed with sentencing Bridget Curtis at that time, taking into account her mental health condition and the impact of the tragic incident on her family. Curtis faces a potential custodial sentence, though the exact length will depend on the full deliberation of her mental and physical state.
For the Hall family, the arrival of this date is both a source of anticipation and a painful reminder of the life lost. They continue to seek justice for Mabli, with hopes that the legal process will finally offer some clarity and closure.
The delay in this high-profile case underscores the complexities of balancing mental health considerations with the need for justice, a challenge that courts across the UK regularly face in cases involving serious road traffic offenses.
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