THE mother of a teenage girl who was run over in front of her best friend said her killer showed “no remorse or compassion” throughout his trial.
Daniel Chappell was convicted on Thursday of causing the death of Alliyah Bell by careless driving.
He had denied the charge.
After the jury delivered its unanimous verdict, Miss Bell’s mother, Jo Swann, said her family had been left devastated by the loss of her daughter.
She said: “This has been a traumatic week for myself, Kirk, and the whole family.
“It has taken us back to the darkest place in our lives and even though this court case has brought justice today with a guilty verdict it will never bring our Alliyah back.
“We have been, and will be, suffering for the rest of our lives without her.
“This man has had no remorse or compassion throughout this whole process, which has made it even more heartbreaking on top of our grief.”
Chappell claimed during the trial that Miss Bell, 17, had run out of front of him on Hythe Hill and was wearing a dark outfit, making it impossible for him to see her.
But Leah Green, who was with Miss Bell at the time of the incident in August 2021, had told the jury her friend was wearing a “vibrant” outfit.
Under cross examination from defence barrister Donal Lawler, she said: “All I can say is that she was visible – her top was literally vibrant.
“It was the type of pattern people wear to be seen.
“You could just see her – no-one could miss her in that road.”
The court had heard there was adequate lighting in Hythe Hill and that it was not “completely dark” as Chappell had told police in interview.
Speaking outside court on Thursday, Ms Swann, 45, said: “He got exactly what he deserved.
“It is never going to bring her back, is it, but it is just a relief.
“It’s justice.”
Miss Bell’s aunt, Tracey Bell, said: “Our family, all the way through this, wanted the right thing to be done – and it has been.”
Chappell, who will be sentenced next month, was granted unconditional bail.
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