Teen who killed friend in Bilston bike crash to appeal sentence
A teenager who killed his 15-year-old friend while ‘showing off’ on a stolen bike has been told he can appeal to have his sentence cut.
Brett Everitt, 17, of Thompson Road, Oldbury, was sentenced to five years’ detention after admitting causing the death of Kian Buckler by dangerous driving.
At the sentencing hearing, at Wolverhampton Crown Court on January 15, Judge Amjad Nawaz lifted reporting restrictions to allow naming of the teenager.
The court had heard how Everitt was riding the stolen motorbike in Bilston in November last year
With Mr Buckler as his passenger, CCTV on Boswell Road caught Everitt riding up and down the street, sometimes at speed.
A driver did not see the pair because the motorbike did not have its lights on and neither teenager was wearing reflective clothing.
The vehicles crashed at the junction of Lunt Road and Boswell Road and Mr Buckler was thrown off the motorbike.
The incident happened in Lunt Road on November 29 at 6.30pm, and Buckler died in hospital three days later.
At London’s High Court last week, Mr Justice William Davis said Everitt’s sentence was far too tough and he deserved a bigger reduction because of his youth.
Mr Justice Davis, who was sitting with two other judges, said: “We give leave to appeal against the sentence.”
A full hearing of Everitt’s appeal will take place at a later date, with the victim’s family and prosecution lawyers invited to attend.
Following the sentencing of Everitt, Kian’s mother, Tina Richards said: “Losing Kian has left a great big hole in my life, which will never be filled.
“I miss his attitude, I miss his smile, I miss his presence. I miss him asking me for a bowl of cereal every night, I miss waking him up for school every day, I miss seeing him play with his little sister.”
Everitt had appeared in court for 25 offences previously.
Judge Nawaz said he hoped lifting the restriction on naming him would also serve as a deterrent to others.
