Man jailed for nine years after killing war veteran from Swindon

A man has admitted killing a war veteran after he stepped out of his car to exchange details following a minor crash in Swindon.

Midway through a two-week trial at Bristol Crown Court, Dario Carboni, 24, from Tottenham, London, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 75-year-old Kenneth Kiley. 

He was sentenced to nine years in prison and, once released, will be disqualified from driving for eight-and-a-half years.

The case related to two collisions which took place on July 8 last year in the Haydon Wick area of Swindon. 

Mr Kiley was a front seat passenger in a Toyota Yaris, which was being driven by his wife Marion, when it was involved in a minor collision with a Vauxhall Corsa at around 8.50pm on the mini roundabout junction of Southernwood Drive and Westfield Way. 

The Yaris was damaged and came to a stop against a lamppost on the roundabout. The Vauxhall was also damaged but the driver failed to stop at the scene and continued along Southernwood Drive. 

Neither Mr or Mrs Kiley were injured, but Mr Kiley left the car to look for the other vehicle to exchange details with the driver. 

However, when he approached the Corsa on Southernwood Drive, the driver, Carboni, failed to stop and the car collided with Mr Kiley causing fatal injuries. 

Carboni continued driving for a short distance before ditching the car and fleeing the scene. 

Mr Kiley was taken to John Radcliffe Hospital with serious injuries, including a fractured skull and a significant brain injury, but never regained consciousness and died the following day (July 9 2018). 

Detective Inspector Jim Taylor, from the Brunel Major Crime Investigation Team, welcomed today’s outcome and paid tribute to Mr Kiley's family. 

He said: "This was a horrific case where an innocent man lost his life in horrendous circumstances. 

"Mr Kiley was run over just a short distance from his wife – the impact on her and the rest of his family is unimaginable. 

"I would like to pay tribute to their strength and courage during the last ten months and I hope this outcome, while it won't bring Mr Kiley back, will provide them with some form of closure." 

Mr Kiley, who lived in Swindon, served in the armed forces with the parachute regiment, the intelligence corps and later the Army reserves. 

He leaves behind his wife Marion, and two sons Adam and Matthew.

Mr Kiley's family released the following tribute:

“Almost a year after Ken’s death, his loss still leaves an enormous hole in the lives of our family and friends. 

“We remember him as a kind, warm and devoted husband and father. He loved spending time with his wife Marion, family and friends, reading history and teaching German classes. 

“He spent much of his life in service to his country, first in Northern Ireland where he met his wife Marion and later in Belize and then Hannover in Germany where his eldest son, Matthew was born. 

“Ken had recently supported his wife during a serious illness, and they were looking forward to continuing to enjoy their well-earned retirement traveling the world with friends and spending time with his family. 

“Ken’s death has devastated his wife, family and friends and has left an enormous hole in all our lives, which we are still coming to terms with, both in practical and emotional terms.

“Our mother, now in her late 70s and coping with Parkinson disease has spent the last 6 months trying to re-build her life without Ken.

“The ongoing trial and attendance at court has added to the challenges our family has faced and has meant we have been unable to fully put this horrific incident to rest. We now hope to be able to do so. 

“We feel this sentence is deserved and justified. Our family and especially our husband and father deserved justice and this sentence has gone some way to achieve this. 

“The defendant needs this sentence to make him realise the huge and permanent impact he has had on so many lives through his reckless decisions and actions. 

“We also believe this is needed to highlight the seriousness of this crime and hopefully discourage the re-occurrence of this kind of horrific incident.”