Disgust over sentence of a hit-and-run killer

ZANETA'S parents arriving at church for her funeral

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THE devastated parents of young cousins killed in a hit-and-run have described how they are serving a 'life sentence' while the driver who mowed down their children will be out of prison within two years.

Gabor Hegedus (38) a convicted criminal from Hungary, struck Zaneta Krokova (11) and Helena Kotlarova (12) with his Peugeot 807 as they crossed a road in Oldham on New Year's Eve. Helena died at the scene while Zaneta passed away in hospital two days later.

Killer driver Hegedus was sentenced to four years, but is likely to be released on licence after two.

Zaneta's grieving mother said the families were serving 'a life sentence', adding: "He's only got two years for taking away two human lives. It's not right."

Helena's mum said the sentence was 'laughable' and spoke of her heartbreak at losing her daughter.

"When she was at home there was so much laughter. The house is now quiet," she said.

They are calling for Hegedus' jail sentence to be reviewed.

The girls, whose families had moved to the UK from the Czech Republic in 2010, were hand-in-hand on their way to a shop to buy crisps and were hit when they were about two paces from reaching the pavement at 7pm on Saturday, December 31, last year.

Hegedus, who had been overtaking another car, sped away from the scene and tried to cover up his crime.

Now the families of the victims have called on the courts to increase the rogue driver's 'disgusting' four-year jail sentence.

Judge John Potter sentenced Hegedus last week after the defendant had pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving, failing to stop after a collision, failing to report a collision, driving without a licence and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

He had been speeding at 40mph on the 30mph Ashton Road moments before the crash, although his car had slowed to just below the speed limit by the time of the impact, the court heard.

Together with his three passengers - also convicted criminals from Hungary - he dumped the car and then reported it stolen in a bid to evade justice.

They washed the car with bleach to destroy any evidence and Hegedus also shaved off his beard to avoid capture.

But they were snared by the police investigation and their sentencing hearing was told Hegedus had previously been handed a five-year jail sentence in his native Hungary in 2000 for robbery and aggravated battery, while in 2007 he received a suspended sentence for car theft and counterfeiting before moving to the UK.

The parents of his victims have now welcomed news that the Attorney General was to consider whether the sentence was 'unduly lenient'.

Zaneta's mother (34) also named Zaneta, who has two other children, speaking through an interpreter, said: "In my opinion the justice system in England failed completely. That sentence is for the lives of our children. They told us that it could end up like this, but we never believed that the judge could decide this way. He's only got two years for taking away two human lives. It's not right."

Her husband Milan (34), an unemployed factory worker, said: "We expected a harsher sentence. When we heard, we were disgusted."

He pointed out that Hegedus had served a longer sentence for a lesser crime in his native Hungary.

Evidence

Speaking about Hegedus, Zaneta continued: "I know sometimes accidents happen, but the way he behaved wasn't like a human being. He could have braked. He could have stopped. He had no mercy. Why should we have mercy for him? He knew very well what he did. He could have stopped. He wanted to destroy the evidence."

Paying tribute to her daughter, tearful Zaneta added: "She was an extremely clever and good girl. Our lives have collapsed. It's very difficult to live with. The criminal justice system doesn't understand what happened to us. Basically, we've got a life sentence."

Helena's mother, Sylva, (38) said the sentence was 'laughable' while Hegedus had shown 'no mercy'.

One of nine siblings, Helena had brought 'joy to the house', said Sylva, adding: "When she was at home there was so much laughter. The house is now quiet. We are missing her so much."

The Attorney General is considering whether the four-year jail sentence handed to hit-and-run killer Gabor Hegedus is 'unduly lenient'.

The chief legal advisor to the Crown Prosecution Service now has a month to decide whether the case should be sent to the Court of Appeal.