The devastated family of a mother callously mown down and killed by a cowboy roofer fleeing police in his speeding van has been dealt a new blow after being told they will not receive any compensation because her death was not ‘violent enough’.
Suzanne Cherry was struck by John McDonald as she was playing golf with her husband Clint Harrison in April last year.
Her ribs were fractured in multiple places, her carotid arteries in the neck torn and her liver and spleen lacerated.
The mother-of-three, who had two step children and had been due to welcome her first grandchild within weeks, had an emergency blood transfusion before being airlifted to hospital where a leg had to be amputated.
A CT scan showed serious and irreparable brain damage. She died in her hospital bed four days later – the day before her 63rd birthday.
Her widower Clint, who is still grieving the loss of his beloved partner of 18 years, has now revealed the decision by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority (CICA) which he described as ‘disgusting.’
Shaking his head in disbelief as he shared a copy of the letter with the Daily Mail, he said: ‘Basically they have turned down our application for compensation saying Sue’s death was not violent enough.
‘No compensation offered because, in their words it was not a crime of violence.’
Suzanne and Clint together. It is impossible to comprehend the horror and disbelief Clint – who was standing just 10 to 15 yards from Suzanne when she was struck – felt on seeing the van speeding towards his wife
He shared a copy of the letter with the Daily Mail, shaking his head in disbelief as he said: ‘Basically they have turned down our application for compensation saying Sue’s death was not violent enough’
Dashcam footage shows cowboy builder John McDonald, 52, driving his van recklessly and crashing into other cars as he attempts to flee from police
Mr Harrison, 63, a retired rivet technician, from Aldridge, West Midlands, told how he and five family members had applied for £5,000 each in compensation, and in part to help pay for funeral costs.
He said: ‘We had a brilliant family liaison officer and he told us we could apply for compensation.
‘We’re just ordinary people who have never been in a situation like this so we applied through the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority.
Mr Harrison, who works for his wife and her ex husband’s company, told how they received a letter rejecting their claim.
He said: ‘It was a no! It was brutal, it was disgusting and outrageous.’
The letter from the CICA stated: ‘I was so sorry to learn of the death of your wife Suzanne. Please accept my sincere condolences for your loss.
‘I have looked carefully at all the evidence available to me and I am sorry to tell you I cannot make an offer of compensation.
‘This is because the information available to me, regrettably, does not support a crime of violence, as defined by the Scheme.
‘I know this will be disappointing news and not the decision you ere hoping for.’
The letter continues: ‘My decision is not intended to indicate a lack of sympathy on our part for your loss.
‘This decision is made solely on the eligibility criteria of the Scheme and how it relates to your claim. If you do not accept this decision you have the right to apply for a review.’
Mr Harrison, who is now considering having the decision reviewed and is also pursuing a civil claim against the insurers of the van driver, said: ‘What really hurt was the fact that said Sue’s death was not violent enough for compensation to be awarded.
‘How much more violent could her death have been? It is shocking.’
Following last week’s court hearing at Worcester Crown Court Mr Harrison had re-lived the pain of seeing his wife mown down as she was looking for her ball after their second shot.
Pictured: John McDonald (left) who was sentenced to 13 years and six months in prison and his son Johnny McDonald (right) who was jailed for 32 months
Footage showed the van travelling up towards Aston Wood Golf Club where Suzanne was playing golf
Mr Harrison, and Suzanne’s two brothers feel the sentences were not severe enough
He said: ‘Suzanne’s fragile body shattered in front of my eyes. Her scream just before the impact haunts me every moment of every day – night times are even worse.
‘My beautiful wife was taken from us in a senseless act of violence.
‘To have witnessed such a tragedy on what should have been a beautiful day is a burden I will carry forever.
‘While enjoying what should have been the safest of one of Suzanne’s many activities, I watched in hells horror as the life of my beautiful wife and our future together was snatched away in an instant.’
John McDonald. 52, who took police on a 70mph, 12-minute chase through residential streets, mounting pavements and running red lights, before trying to escape through the golf course where Mrs Cherry was playing, was jailed for 13 years and six months on after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving.
He was also given a concurrent sentence of 48 months for conspiracy to commit fraud.
His son Johnny McDonald, 23, was jailed for 32 months and their accomplice Brett Delaney, 35, faces 28 months.
In a cold-blooded act of inhumanity as the trio fled the crash site, McDonald senior stepped over Suzanne’s body as her horrified husband shouted after them: ‘You b*****ds have killed my wife.’
Mr Harrison, and Suzanne’s two brothers feel the sentences were not severe enough.
He described his wife as ‘incredible woman’ and an ‘inspiration’, saying: ‘Everybody loved her. She was the light of my life and she was what I lived for every day.’
He added: ‘The sentence was not nearly long enough but the judge did a fantastic job.
‘His hands are tied by the Government who refuse to invest in the prison system.’
He said the family originally wanted a murder or manslaughter conviction and not death by dangerous driving.
He said the defendants had offered no remorse or apology to his family, with another relative staying: ‘They just glared at us from the dock. But we will not be intimidated by them.’
Mr Harrison said that while he was devastated to lose his wife, he also felt sorry for the victims robbed by the ruthless roofer
Suzanne (pictured) juggled family life and her many fitness-based hobbies with managing a team of 35 employees over a 32-year career
Clint and Suzanne together. A mother of three grown-up children, Suzanne and Clint married in 2022, with Suzanne becoming a proud stepmother to his two children, Zayn, 27, and Kirsten, 22
Mr Harrison said that while he was devastated to lose his wife, he also felt sorry for the victims robbed by the ruthless roofer.
He said: ‘He targeted the most vulnerable people in society, our elderly, and that is terrible.’
”It will only be a matter of time before he is back out on the streets and trying too rip off people again.’
Suzanne’s brother, retired fire officer Adrian Cherry, 60, said: ‘She was the eldest sibling and the kingpin of our family.
‘We are all feeling her loss, and she supported everyone around her. We are relieved that we can now pause, after the sentencing, and put a full stop.
‘We have a new chapter – but we will never ever forget Sue.’
He said her killer ‘deserves to be in prison for the rest of his life’.
Brother Steve Cherry, 62, a self employed builder, said: ‘Everyone loved her She had 450 people at her funeral and 70 cyclists following her procession.’
He said their 89-year-old widowed mother Maureen Humphries had been ‘absolutely broken’ by her daughter’s death.
