Grieving family faces long wait for justice

The daughter of a 91-year-old man who died after being hit by an electric bike said she has been told the court case over his death will not begin for three years.

James Blackwood was injured outside his home in City Way, Rochester, Kent, on 6 July 2023, as he took out recycling.

He died three months later, with the subsequent case not due to be heard until summer 2028 because of court backlogs.

The Ministry of Justice said it was increasing funding and considering ways to tackle delays.

Mr Blackwood's daughter Christine White said: "I've been told I may be called as a witness.

"I was talking to mum about it and she said 'it's going to drag everything up again and bring it all up'.

"She gets upset every time we talk about it."

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Solicitor Gerard Maye said delays in the legal system had reached "unprecedented levels", something he put down to the effects of the Covid pandemic and historic underfunding of the courts.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "We know that justice delayed is justice denied, and it is clear that many cases are taking too long to reach trial.

"That's why we're backing our courts with record funding and are carefully considering Sir Brian Leveson's bold and ambitious recommendations for reshaping the courts system to tackle delays and speed up justice for victims."

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