Hit-and-run killer to face less than two years in jail

A DRIVER who killed a young Edinburgh woman in a New York hit-and-run will face less than two years in jail, despite an emotional plea from her family that he face a harsher sentence.

Julia Thomson, 24, from Morningside, was struck by a car in Manhattan as she made her way home from a night out with friends in September last year.

Student Tenzing Bhutia, 23, has been told he faces a jail term of around 20 months after yesterday pleading guilty to second degree vehicular manslaughter, leaving the scene of an accident and driving under the influence of alcohol.

The decision comes despite a poignant letter to the court from Julia's parents, Bill and Cecilia Thomson, asking for a minimum sentence of three years to act as a deterrent against drink-driving.

The couple said: "It is impossible to overstate the effect that this senseless tragedy has had on us, her parents, and our three sons, Douglas, William and Charles.

"Not only have we lost a most precious child and only daughter, but we are also having to live each day with the horrible circumstances of her death.

"We are not the type of people to demonstrate and wail outside your courthouse demanding retribution, but we would want you to know that the impact of her death has been nothing short of devastating.

"We hope time will help to heal the worst of the wounds but right now the situation is horrible, with sleepless nights, nightmares, tears and helpless anger the norm."

Yesterday, at Manhattan Supreme Court, Justice Rena Uviller told Bhutia to expect two years in prison, but deferred sentencing until June 9 to allow him to graduate from a business administration degree at New York's Baruch College.

Speaking afterwards, Mr Thomson said: "It is right that this young man is punished, but I put the blame for my daughter's death squarely in the hands of the US Justice System.

"Driving under the influence is generally dealt with by a slap on the wrist on a first offence, so it fails to act as a deterrent. There is a culture of drink-driving in America and especially in New York."

In his own letter to the judge, Bhutia says he would "gladly" spend the rest of his life behind bars if it could change the outcome of the accident.

He says: "No amount of prison time will ever suffice for the loss of a life. Whatever the future might hold for me, I will face it with no question because I believe I deserve what I get."

Julia had just returned to New York from Edinburgh when the accident happened.

Around 400 friends and family from across the world paid tribute to her at a remembrance service at St Mary's RC Cathedral in Edinburgh last October, and a service was also held for her at St Patrick's Cathedral in New York.