Sentence appeal offers 'no closure' for M25 deaths

The sister of a woman killed with three others in a motorway collision says her family will get "no closure" after learning the man responsible is to appeal his sentence.

Jennifer Smith, 59, had been returning from a day trip to Southend, Essex, when the minibus she was in was involved in a crash with a car and a HGV on the M25 on 23 August, 2021.

Ethan Burdett, from Ipswich, admitted four counts of causing death by dangerous driving and was jailed for three years.

Ms Smith's sister, Deborah Douglas, told the BBC: "He took four lives that day - and four families were devastated - and a measly sentence of three years - he just couldn't do that, that is so upsetting."

Ms Smith, Abigael Muamba, 31 and Dexter Augustus, 60, all from London, died at the scene.

Lisa Gardiner, 44, also from London, died later from her injuries.

During a sentencing hearing, Chelmsford Crown Court heard how Burdett failed to react quickly enough to the minibus braking in front of him and crashed into it, forcing the vehicle into the back of another car.

Ms Douglas said the appeal process will be "painstaking".

"It brings it all back and we have no closure," she said.

"We know that no sentence he gets will ever bring our Jen back but it all the more cuts deeper when we have to go through these processes again and face these failings again."

Ms Smith's daughter Nicola Elliot said it was difficult to get over the loss of a parent.

"From start to finish it has been one pain after another. One injustice after another," she said.

If Burdett's appeal was successful, she said she would be "absolutely devastated" and that there should be tougher sentences.

"I will be looking for ways to find out how this can be changed and never happen again because the pain my family and I have been through... is unfathomable," she said.

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said: "Our decision to accept a guilty plea to causing death by careless driving was made after important CCTV evidence showed the lorry driver's view may have been obstructed for some of the time prior to the collision.

"While sentencing is a matter for the courts, we continue to offer our support to the families affected by this tragic case."

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