Court increases prison sentence for fatal car accident to 3 years

The Court of Appeals has ruled to impose a 3-year prison sentence, as opposed to the initial 22 months handed down by the lower court, to an individual found guilty, following admission, of the crime of causing death due to reckless, dangerous, or negligent actions, stemming from a fatal car accident in Germasogeia in December 2022.

According to a statement from the Legal Service, the Court of Appeals, in a unanimous decision issued on January 29, 2024, upheld the appeal by the Attorney General, who contested the original sentence of 22 months as "clearly inadequate, as it fails to serve the purposes of the Law, does not protect the public, is not deterrent, does not reflect the seriousness of the offense, nor does it serve the purpose of punishment, but rather sends incorrect messages to potential offenders, especially for such offenses that are so prevalent."

In its Decision, the Court of Appeals, among other points, stated that "given the aggravating circumstances, a deterrent nature was expected in the imposed sentence, noting that the 22-month prison term neutralized both the element of seriousness based on the prescribed penalty and the deterrent element."

The appeal and subsequent decision underscore the judicial system's commitment to ensuring appropriate consequences for actions resulting in loss of life, particularly in cases of negligence or recklessness on the road. The ruling sets a precedent for stricter penalties in similar cases, emphasizing the importance of accountability and deterrence in safeguarding public safety on the streets.