Palmer convicted

Kicking-back · 14 May 2004, 21:11 (Ref:971304)

Jonathan Palmer, the ex Grand Prix driver who now owns Brands Hatch, has been convicted in relation to a fatal road accident in Portugal.

http://www.autosport.com/newsitem.asp?id=27238&s=5

Dutton · 15 May 2004, 13:37 (Ref:971689)

Not a member of the Autosport site (consider it regularly, it really would make sense, but I have a very limited capacity for being arsed to sign-up with sites. Just joined one recently, so it may take a while yet).

Can you give the basic info (or more, if you wish)?

Kicking-back · 15 May 2004, 13:43 (Ref:971691)

Basically Palmer was in Portugal in 1996 to film a video for Honda.

Right hand drive car, he goes round a corner and forgets he's in Portugal - he's on the wrong side of the road and goes head on into another car, killing the driver.

He's been convicted of negligence, and sentenced to seven months in jail.

However, due to an amnesty for overseas prisoners with sentences of less than a year, he won't now need to serve it.

As for autosport, it takes 2 minutes to sign up and it's well worth it.

Knowlesy · 15 May 2004, 13:49 (Ref:971695)

1996? How come it's only come up now?

Kicking-back · 15 May 2004, 14:56 (Ref:971742)

That's the pace of life in Portugal for you

garcon · 15 May 2004, 15:45 (Ref:971764)

Bet he's glad he wasn't remanded in custody pending the trial...

DavidStHubbins · 15 May 2004, 15:50 (Ref:971768)

His lawyers are considering appealing... It was HIS fault.

Kicking-back · 15 May 2004, 16:10 (Ref:971774)

It was his fault - but it was an honest mistake which will be with him forever

twig · 15 May 2004, 16:15 (Ref:971777)

Im not sure of the situation, but is it right for us to be discussing our opinion of the trial in a public forum?

Kicking-back · 15 May 2004, 16:17 (Ref:971779)

Yes, It's legally okay, because the verdict has been given.

A case is only "active" legally when the trial is still pending or underway - this is the period when you can't discuss it.

As long as people are only giving opinions based on the facts there's no problem.

Russfeld · 15 May 2004, 18:33 (Ref:971843)

Why appeal if there's no sentence?

And does this mean we can all go holiday in Portugal and as long as we dont commit crimes with sentences over a year, we get off free?

cos · 15 May 2004, 20:32 (Ref:971901)

The amnesty was in 1999 - it applied to cases prior to that I presume.

Kicking-back: aren't all opinions based on facts anyway?

Kicking-back · 15 May 2004, 20:33 (Ref:971902)

No. There was an amnesty which meant all cases involving sentences of less than a year for crimes which took place before 1999 and involved an overseas accused, would mean the jail term wouldn't need to be served.

I assume he's appealing because he now has a conviction for negligent driving which he wants overturned.

Kicking-back · 15 May 2004, 20:34 (Ref:971903)

Quote:

Originally posted by cos
Kicking-back: aren't all opinions based on facts anyway?

They should be, but some people base their opinions on things which aren't true.

**Peter Mallett** · 15 May 2004, 20:57 (Ref:971921)

Good point KB. For examples look at some of the JV threads on this forum.

Knowlesy · 15 May 2004, 21:09 (Ref:971929)

I'll rephrase that: look at ALL of the JV threads on this forum!

Gt_R · 16 May 2004, 03:26 (Ref:972055)

Yeah...it's quite clearly Mr Palmer's fault..no doubt about it. Definitely wasn't intentional, but definitely his carelessness.

I'm quite surprised that his lawyers plan to appeal considering the light sentence and amnesty. Somehow it just gives the impression that , despite what he say about "regret" for his actions, he doenst accept the "punishment" (which is an indication of how he accept his blame)...which is quite unfortunate.

His carelessness resulted in a guy's life...he ought to accept the consequences (which is quite light) and end this episode.

Oh...and what's with taking 8 years to convict somebody..?!

jetsetter · 16 May 2004, 07:54 (Ref:972127)

If i was Palmer i would just accept the punishment as he did commit the offence & escaped with an awfully light penalty for ending someone's life.

Firefighter · 16 May 2004, 10:39 (Ref:972288)

Even if he did win in an appeal he would still have to live with the fact that he was involved in an accident in which someone died.

As jetsetter mentioned it isn't much of a penalty for ending someone's life, I'd imagine that means there is more to the accident than what has been reported

**Adam43** · 16 May 2004, 11:14 (Ref:972336)

It is difficult to remark on how people should react to such situations. Especially with such little information.

**Peter Mallett** · 16 May 2004, 12:17 (Ref:972455)

If this thread carries on will he go on to the "Willaims B List?".

Liam34 · 16 May 2004, 13:54 (Ref:972530)

The AutoSport story quotes Palemer
""After less than half a mile, as I approached a right hand corner I saw a Ford Sierra Cosworth car coming towards me, fast, on what appeared to be its correct side of the road. The Sierra then appeared to run wide, moving onto my side of the road, and approaching me head on. I could not believe what I was seeing, and braked hard, praying for the Sierra to move back on to the other side of the road. It didn't and we collided.

"After the accident I was very agitated and remember repeatedly exclaiming 'he was on the wrong side of the road!'"

“To my great distress, I soon realised that it was actually me who had been on the wrong side of the road at the time of the collision. I had completely forgotten I was in Portugal and should have driven on the right, not the left, and was mislead by the right hand drive configuration of the Honda car. Unfortunately the initial positioning of the Sierra, as its driver cut the corner coming towards me, did not alert me to my mistake either."

I presume his laywers are appealing the crime, rather then the sentence. They perhaps feel he should have been charged with careless driving, or dangerous driving, rather than negligent homicide.

**Peter Mallett** · 16 May 2004, 14:31 (Ref:972553)

I have to sympathise with Jonathan. There is a junction on my route to Mallory Park. I've driven it loads of times but for whatever reason I always try to turn into it on the wrong side of the road. To explain I'm spending a lot of my driving time on the "wrong" side of the road at the moment.

So it is easy for me to understand his confusion in the circumstances.

DavidStHubbins · 16 May 2004, 14:40 (Ref:972557)

Maybe you should be on the Williams B list too?

**Peter Mallett** · 16 May 2004, 19:34 (Ref:972745)

I'm on the Z list two places below Adam.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Jonathon Palmer	Radisichrox	Touring Car Racing	5	21 Sep 2001 19:12