Officer Ian Brotherton spared jail after killing Cristopher De Carvalho Guedes in Enfield while speeding.
Brotherton admitted causing death by careless driving and denied the more serious charge. A judge sentenced him to six months, a sentence suspended for 18 months.
The judge spoke of the officer’s duties and standards, and the court reviewed footage during the trial. Brotherton must do 150 hours of unpaid work and cannot drive for 30 months.
The officer responded to a child strangling call around 3 PM on October 12, 2023. Brotherton drove on the A10 in Enfield, 2.4 miles from his destination.
The police van used lights and sirens and went through a red light on Southbury Road. The van hit Guedes as he turned onto Baird Road. Guedes hit railings and suffered a head trauma, dying on October 13, 2023, at 12:30 AM.
A wall and tree partly blocked Brotherton’s view. Police can exceed speed limits in emergencies, but safety should never be compromised. Brotherton thought a bus held all traffic back, which he thought made it safe for him to pass.
Guedes wore a helmet that reduced hearing, but the court did not suggest Guedes was at fault. His family came from Brazil by video link to the trial and called Guedes a talented footballer.
The family asked for the officer to be fired, stating a “30-second” error changed their lives. Brotherton thinks about this every day, his lawyer said.
Brotherton wished he could change the past, thinking it was a real emergency and that his siren would get traffic’s attention. His lawyer added that he was terribly wrong that day.
His lawyer called it a brief lapse in judgment. Prosecutors said he went below driving standards, adding that the officer has been held accountable.
A police commander said the family lost a loved one and hoped the result would bring closure for them. She noted that they train officers to high driving standards.
The Independent Office for Police Conduct investigated this case. The court said Brotherton faces a hearing on March 26 about police misconduct.