A teacher who lost three close family members in a fatal crash has spoken of her distress after learning the driver responsible could be released early under a new government scheme. Summer Mace, 26, was left devastated when her mother Lisa, 49, sister Jade, 25, and stepfather Paul, 41, were killed after their vehicle was struck by another car travelling at 96mph.
The driver, 43-year-old Aurelijus Cielevicius, was later convicted and sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. The court heard he had taken drugs before getting behind the wheel. He survived the collision with relatively minor injuries. He was jailed in June 2023 after admitting causing death by dangerous driving.
It has now emerged that he is expected to be released early under the Government’s revised sentencing measures aimed at easing prison overcrowding. James Wild, the Conservative MP for North West Norfolk, raised the matter at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, urging Sir Keir Starmer to act. The prime minister said he would look into the circumstances of the case.
Ms Mace said the possibility of his release has reignited her family’s grief and raised questions about whether the sentence handed down properly reflects the severity of the crime.
She said in a Facebook post: « Unfortunately due to the new Early Release Scheme the man who killed my family could be released and deported anytime now.
« We have been told that he is eligible and it’s very likely to happen, we just don’t know when.
« This means he will be free in his own home country and get to live his life again whilst only having served three years for killing three people.
« Three human beings – three of the most beautiful people. »
She added: « I’ve completely lost faith in the justice system.
« He’ll be back home in Lithuania, free as a bird – popping to the shops, going out with friends, getting on with his life like nothing happened.
« We don’t get that. We never will. Where is the justice in that? »
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