A 26-year-old British tourist has been jailed for one year after he was found guilty of the hit and run which killed a Swedish mother on holiday.
Police confirmed to the Cyprus Mail that the Briton, named as Manraj Singh Sidhu, was sentenced on Monday and was found guilty of multiple serious charges – with his driving licence also suspended for 18 months.
Camilla Christina Pamdahl, 46, had left her five-year-old daughter in the care of hotel staff so that she could cross the road and visit the nearby supermarket.
Sidhu was found guilty of carrying out a dangerous and reckless act which resulted in the death of a person, reckless and dangerous driving, and abandoning the scene of a fatal crash, among many others.
He fled the scene on foot but was tracked down by police a few hours later.
Britain’s Daily Mail spoke to Pamdhal’s husband, Jonas, who has expressed his shock and dismay at the seemingly lenient sentencing.
“How can this happen? How can the judge only give one year? It seems to me they have rushed through this case and no matter he pleaded guilty. What about our family?” Jonas told the Daily Mail.
The incident occurred on May 5 at a pedestrian crossing on the main artery of Nissi Avenue in the coastal town.
He fled the scene on foot but was tracked down by police a few hours later. An alcotest identified a reading of 44μg, more than four times over the legal limit of 9μg, and a drugs test returned positive for cannabis.
Jonas further expressed his shock at the sentencing, stating: “I’m not sure the judge looked close enough into the circumstances. I’ve heard that he said he had served to avoid a stopped car, but he still hit Camilla on a pedestrian crossing”.
Police previously stated that the driver failed to stop at a pedestrian crossing where the woman was attempting to cross. “A young man driving the rental buggy overtook a stopped car, and hit the woman,” they said.
The Swedish woman was taken to Famagusta general hospital where she was declared dead on arrival. Photos showed immense damage to the rental buggy, with the front completely caved in.
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