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Abigail, right, pictured with her twin sister Bonnie |
Family: Our pain at loss of twin Abigail
‘Cruel’ hit and run driver showed ‘no compassion or decency’
THE tragic affect the actions of a hit and run killer had on the family of Abigail Moore was revealed in court on Thursday at the end of the trial of the man who caused her death.
Twin Abigail, 25, who was a former pupil at Parliament Hill school, Highgate Road, was killed last February when a car hit her at the Clapton Roundabout in Hackney. She was killed instantly.
Abigail, who lived in Hampstead, had just completed a degree at the Metropolitan University in Holloway Road and planned to work as a primary school teacher. She was waiting for her results and was working temporarily for an estate agent when she was killed.
Kimon Lyefook, 36, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and driving while disqualified at Wood Green Crown Court on Friday and was given a nine-year jail sentence.
He was also banned from driving for 10 years and will have to take a new driving test when his ban finishes. Lyefook was arrested and charged after the passenger in the car he was driving came forward and gave a statement.
Abigail’s twin sister Bonnie said her family were pleased with the sentence.
She said: “We were told he would get around five years. It was more than we expected.”
She added that the family’s grief had not been helped by Lyefook’s not guilty plea or his calls for a re-trial and the dismissal of the original jury following complaints about its make up by the defendant.
Bonnie continued: “He constantly lied. He denied it, and it was a cruel thing to do. No matter what the sentence, this will never bring back my sister.”
A statement by the family about the impact Abigail’s tragic death has had was read in court by the prosecution barrister.
It said: “Abigail was part of a large and loving family. Every member feels the loss of her. Family ties meant a lot to her. For the family members who were closest to her the pain of loss is immeasurable.
“Abigail’s twin sister is trying to come to terms with being alone now after having 25 years of deep connection and constant companionship.
“Abigail’s elder brother shared a deep understanding and friendship with her and is unable to fill the void in his life. Her parents have lost a much loved, irreplaceable child along with any grandchildren the future may have brought to them. Her grandparents are devastated.
“Abigail was living with her elderly grandmother at the time of the accident. The shock and heartbreak for a woman who is nearly 90 years old to lose one so young and so close is unbearable.
“Abigail also had a boyfriend whom she had known since she was 17 years old. Their love and commitment had grown with the years. They were about to move in together and make plans for their future. Their union and bright future was brought to a sudden and abrupt end when it should have been only the beginning for them.”
Lyefook was out on bail for other driving offences when the accident took place and had a string of previous driving offences including driving without a licence and without insurance.
The family called for a “severe sentence to give the life of a raid traffic victim a measure of the worth it deserves.”
The statement continued: “Her young and worthwhile life came to a sudden and untimely end while the driver of the offending vehicle, showing no regard for the law – no decency or compassion – simply drove away.
“Abigail was irreplaceable. She was intelligent, beautiful, loving and had a passion to do good in this world.
“The ‘hit and run’ driver, who recklessly took her life, gave her no worth as he left her lying in the road.
“Abigail had a life to live that was full of potential. It is important to us that she is not discarded as just another road accident statistic. It is so important to us that Abigail’s death is not seen as just another inevitable road accident.
“Dangerous drivers are responsible for a huge number of injuries and deaths on our roads. Their actions maim and kill innocent people. They take lives and ruin lives.”
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