A Mansfield woman has described the moment she came face-to-face with the driver who killed her partner in a horrific road crash.
Mark Buckley, 34, was heading to work on his motorbike on Mother’s Day last year when he was hit by a taxi in Derby Road, Kikrby-in-Ashfield. He died in hospital the same day.
The taxi driver, Kevin Wiesztort, was arrested and jailed after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
Mark’s partner and childhood sweetheart, Rachael Price, has spoken of how she met Wiesztort through a justice scheme aiming to get criminals to face the consequences of their actions.
“I needed to come face-to-face with him because of the court process. A lot of questions hadn’t been answered,” Rachael said.
“There were only two people there that day, and unfortunately one of them couldn’t tell me what had happened.”
Picture: Rachael and Mark were childhood sweethearts
The meeting happened through a process known as ‘restorative justice‘.
The tactic is used in many police force areas, including Nottinghamshire, to help victims recover and criminals understand the impact of their actions.
Rachael said the scheme had helped her as she tries to rebuild her life after the tragedy,
I think hate is a very strong word. I don’t think he went out intentionally that day to kill Mark.
She added: “I think hate is a very strong word. I don’t think he (Wiesztort) went out intentionally that day to kill Mark.
“I also needed him to know, that every day he woke up and every night he went to sleep, the true impact of what he’d done.”
Video: Rachael Price on how she met the driver who killed her partner
Notts Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping is a supporter of restorative justice and has announced Sheffield-based company Remedi is being appointed to expand its use in Nottinghamshire.
Mr Tipping said: “Restorative justice been around for some time but we’ve got new contractors coming in.
“Remedi have worked with about 80 people across Nottinghamshire already, and the real focus is about giving victims a better deal.”
Wiesztort, of Clipstone, was jailed for 45 months at Nottingham Crown Court in February after he admitted causing death by dangerous driving.
