On 19 June 2021, the Norton Green and wider Stoke-on-Trent community was left mourning the death of six-year-old Sharlotte-Sky Naglis.
Sharlotte was tragically killed when John Owen - who was twice over the drink drive limit, had a series of drugs in his system, was using a mobile phone, had no seatbelt on and was speeding – struck her with his car as she and her father walked on the pavement on Endon Road.
MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, Kidsgrove and Talke, Jonathan Gullis fought tirelessly alongside Sharlotte’s mother, Claire, and the community, to overturn the pathetically lenient sentence issued to Mr Owen. Frustratingly, a review under the Unduly Lenient Sentence Scheme was not considered.
During his Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons in November regarding the sentence, Jonathan spoke about the second part of the fight for justice for Sharlotte-Sky, namely Sharlotte’s Law.
Today, two years to the day following Sharlotte’s tragic death, with the support of Claire, a petition has been launched calling for the government to change a law that caused significant delays to the investigation into Mr Owen.
Section 7A of the Road Traffic Act 1988 includes a clause whereby while blood can be taken from a suspect without their consent, it cannot be subject to a laboratory test without consent being provided.
In the case of Mr Owen, due to being in a coma, his blood could not be tested for drugs and alcohol until he was in a conscious state in which he could provide consent. These delays caused much distress and torment for Sharlotte’s family who rightly wanted the investigation to proceed quickly and her killer to be sentenced as soon as possible.
The petition calls on the government to draw on this tragic case and reform this law by introducing ‘Sharlotte’s Law’, that would see the condition of consent removed for the testing of a suspect’s blood in the event that loss of life has occurred due to a collision with a motor vehicle.
Jonathan and Claire believe that this will prevent families in the future being put through the same torment.
Commenting, Sharlotte’s mother, Claire Reynolds said:
“When this happened the first thing that ran through my mind was why? There were so many questions I needed answered and to see justice done.
“Being told the news that he was in a coma which meant the blood can’t be tested until he wakes or passing away as devastating. There is only so much police can do without that vital piece of evidence.
“My anxiety was very high, my depression was very low thoughts that I will not know when my question why would ever be answered, it was agonising, it was torture, seeing the investigation slowing down waiting for him to give consent.
“The moment he awoke and consent was given the investigation went so quick, within weeks the case was with CPS for a decision.
“I would like to change this law so other families don’t have to go through what I had to go through and justice will not slow down.
“Thankfully he awoke within a couple of months but this won’t always be the case.
“People who commit death by dangerous driving should not have these rights, they take away the rights of others the moment they start their vehicle.”
Commenting, Jonathan Gullis MP said:
“The launch of the petition for Sharlotte’s Law is a landmark moment for Sharlotte’s family and the wider Norton Green and Stoke-on-Trent community.
“As a collective, I know the pain is still very much present following that tragic day exactly two years ago.
“It should never be the case that this pain and grief is compounded by delays caused by a law which prevents drugs and alcohol from being tested for in a blood sample – simply because the suspect was not able to provide consent.
“We want this changed so should a tragedy like this ever happen again, families do not have to endure the same torment. Please show your support by signing our petition at www.jonathangullis.com/sharlotte.”