Postman death: Family anguish at trial verdict

Daniel Southion, 30, from Sidcup in Kent, stood trial at Worthing Magistrates' Court.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for six months after giving him six penalty points on his licence which, added to six points from previous convictions, meant an automatic ban.

But after James McCooey, defending, said Southion would be appealing the sentence at the crown court, magistrates agreed to suspend the ban until the appeal was heard.

Postman Paul Lawson, 59, of Greystone Avenue, Tarring, was killed after he collided with Southion's van at the junction of Tarring Road and St Botolph's Road while cycling home from work on March 6 last year.

His wife, Susan, 57, and daughter Kate, 27, who now live in Thirlmere Crescent, Sompting, were in court throughout the case.

Kate said after the court case: "I think it's quite clear he should be disqualified from driving. He should have seen my dad. It was a clear day and my dad is 6ft 2in."

Susan, said: "Having to sit in court and listen to what happened on that day was horrible, but I had to be there for Paul.

"We deserve a bit of justice. If he is allowed to drive, justice has not been served. Our lives have been a nightmare since this happened.

"One friend said to me it's like carrying a heavy rucksack around your neck, you eventually get used to it but the feeling never goes away, it's always there and that's true."

In his evidence, Southion claimed he spent 10 seconds looking "right, left, then right again" before pulling out of St Botolph's Road to turn into Tarring Road, but said he never saw Mr Lawson.

An interview conducted by PC Andrew Boffee, after the accident, was read out in court in which Southion said: "It was just an accident. I don't know what happened. I didn't see him, I can't believe it happened."

But Eve Anstey, prosecuting, said: "If you were there and you didn't see him, then the only explanation is that you didn't look properly."

Before Mr McCooey announced plans for the appeal, he tried to get Southion's ban overturned by claiming it would cause him exceptional hardship.

Southion, who continues to work as a lorry driver, said: "I would lose my job.

"The company I work for doesn't do anything except driving.

"I am not good at reading or writing, driving is what I've always done. I would have to sign on. We would probably lose our accommodation too.

"My wife is due to give birth to our second child any day '“ she'd be depressed. She could lose the baby or anything."

Magistrates, however, did not find in favour of the claim.

In response, Mrs Lawson criticised Southion's perceived lack of remorse and compassion for her family.

"I think it would have been nice if he had come up to us and said he felt sorry for our family," she said. "But he never did that."

Southion was ordered to pay 500 court costs and was fined 500. A date for the appeal has yet to be set.