YEP Says: Ten years for this young man does not do any justice
In short, he was a young drug dealer driving dangerously to evade police and in the process he killed a man. Not just any man, but a much-loved and highly-respected Leeds academic called Dr Andrew Platten.
During the pursuit Rashid ignored junctions and weaved along the road. After the fatal collision, he tried to run from police.
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Hide AdDr Platten was a fine man. His son described in his victim impact statement how he would give anything to spend even five seconds with the father he looked up as a hero and a mentor. Dr Platten had been chairman of the Centre for Knowledge Excellence - an enterprise hub at Leeds Beckett University.
Barrister Shufqat Khan for the driver read a letter written by Rashid in which he accepted that he deserved a long prison sentence. Well, we agree.
In truth, whatever the sentence handed down by the judge would have been insufficient. We do not criticise the judge who said “to place a value on a life for such is an impossibility.”
Dr Platten’s life is and was immeasurable.
It’s a tragedy that his life was cut short for such a trivial reason by such an abhorrent youth.