Reduced Sentence for Hit and Run Killer

Family angered by Charles Capp's successful appeal

Charles Capp has successfully appealed to have the jail term he received for running over a teenager on the A4 reduced.

The 43 year old landscape gardener from Ealing Road, Brentford had originally received seven and a half years for the hit and run incident as well as his attempt to cover up the crime but the three judges who heard his appeal decided to reduce his sentence to six years. He is likely to be out of jail after serving four and a half years. His lawyers argued that the sentence passed was excessive in relation to the death by dangerous driving charge.

Capp, who was not insured and was driving an unregistered vehicle went through a red light at 10mph over the 40 mph speed limit in June of last year. He hit 18 year old Marcus Macfarlane and drove away from the scene.

Marcus, who had spent Saturday watching the World Cup with his friends and family, was in the carriageway at a crossing point when the car collided with him. Police discovered Capp's maroon Renault Laguna abandoned outside Alma House, Walnut Tree Road on the Haverfield Estate in Brentford. 

The family of Marcus have expressed dismay at the ruling and said that they feel let down by the justice system. They plan to write to the Attorney General to dispute the ruling.

June 22, 2007