Susan Rollinson expresses her heartbreak over the lenient sentence of her husband’s killer, who is now allowed to appeal.
Elgin: The widow of Keith Rollinson is understandably upset after learning that her husband’s teenage killer has been given the chance to appeal his sentence.
Keith, a 58-year-old bus driver, tragically lost his life last February at the local bus station. It was a shocking incident that left the community reeling.
The young man responsible for this crime, who can’t be named due to legal reasons, was sentenced to just over four years for culpable homicide last November. It feels like a slap in the face to Susan and her family.
Now, the Crown Office has allowed this 16-year-old to appeal his sentence, which is set for January 14. Ironically, Susan was denied the chance to appeal the leniency of his sentence.
In an emotional interview with the Daily Mail, Susan shared her pain. She said, “I knew that any amount of time they gave him wouldn’t bring Keith back, but all I wanted was for Keith to get justice.”
She’s worried that her husband’s killer will be out enjoying life before he even turns 20, while she’s left with a lifetime of grief. “So, who’s being punished here? I’ve got a life sentence without Keith,” she added.
The teenager was only 15 when he committed the crime and was sentenced at the High Court in Inverness. The judge noted that he was drunk at the time, which led to the confrontation with Mr. Rollinson.
After being refused entry onto the bus, the boy started filming Keith, who then took the phone and smashed it. The situation escalated into a violent attack, and sadly, Keith lost consciousness and later died in the hospital.
As for the appeal process, it’s not just about whether the judges agree with the original sentence. They have to consider if it falls outside the reasonable range of sentences that could have been imposed.
A spokesperson for the Crown Office mentioned that they met with Mr. Rollinson’s family to discuss their concerns and the legal factors involved in sentencing. They took their views seriously but ultimately decided against appealing the sentence.
