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On 14 August 2004, 19-year-old Craig Hopkins was knocked down by a hit-and-run driver in Penarth Road, Cardiff.
He was pronounced dead on arrival at the University Hospital of Wales.
On 10 February 2005, The South Wales Echo reported thus:
"Daryl Gronow, 20, broke down in tears when a jury found him not guilty of murdering 19-year-old Craig Hopkins by deliberately driving into him and his friends while they waited for a taxi. But he was given a six-year sentence in a young offender institution after pleading guilty to manslaughter.
He was also cleared of three counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to Alex Cavaliere, Gareth Burge and Jason Bousie.
Cardiff Crown Court erupted when Mr Hopkins' family and friends swore at Gronow, of Lee Road, Barry, as he was led away to start his sentence.
Mr Hopkins had been out with friends in Cardiff city centre celebrating Mr Burge's 20th birthday when he was killed by Gronow under the Brains bridge in Penarth Road opposite the former Bush Pig pub in the early hours of August 14 last year.
Gronow drove into the group when he lost his temper minutes after being twice punched in the face by Mr Hopkins and his friend Mr Burge in a fight outside the Bush Pig.
Mr Hopkins' father Gerald, 44, of Castle Avenue, Penarth, had sat in the public gallery of Cardiff Crown Court with his wife Andrea, 45, and son Carl to watch every day of Gronow's seven-day trial. Gerald Hopkins said:
'As far as we're concerned the sentence was absolutely disgusting. Craig can't have any children and we can't have any grandchildren. He has still got his life... Craig was... a great kid with a fantastic personality. I'm devastated with the sentence. He has ripped our hearts out.'
Their son, a former pupil at Stanwell Comprehensive School in Penarth, captained the school rugby team and played at county level... Judge Mr Justice Forbes told Gronow:
'I accept you are basically a decent young man and not violent by nature'."
So, according to Justice Forbes, a bloke who DELIBERATELY drives slap-bang into the middle of a group of lads waiting for a taxi is "a decent young man and not violent by nature".
He just lost his temper.
I mean, the jury cleared him of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm, for fuck's sake!
What is it that the jury thought he was trying to do by DELIBERATELY driving his car into Craig, Alex, Gareth and Jason?
Did they think he was just having a laugh?
It's not just the politicians, police and the judiciary who are stark, raving bonkers these days,
It's us as well.
Gronow is an Eastern European surname.
There is, in fact, a large town called Gronow in Poland.
A great many Polish men sought sanctuary here during and after WWII. They courted British girls and many married them. It may be that Gronow is the grandson or great-grandson of one of these. As such he would be a third or fourth-generation immigrant and beyond the scope of this exposé.
Then again, he might just be a nasty chap from Eastern Europe.
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