A disabled pedestrian who was jailed for causing the death of a cyclist in a pavement row has been freed on unconditional bail after winning the right to challenge her manslaughter conviction.
Auriol Grey is ‘thrilled’ to be back home and has been welcomed by ‘big hugs’ from supportive neighbours and after doing a supermarket shop.
She was jailed for three years in March last year for waving aggressively at a retired midwife who went on to fall into the path of an oncoming car which killed her.
Polite and well spoken Grey confirmed to today she was now back home but declined to say how she was feeling or answer any questions, simply saying: ‘No comment.’
Her close friend Roman Ramsay, who collected her from jail, said: ‘We are so pleased to have Auriol back home and it is very see nice to see her again. She should never have been in prison in the first place.’
Auriol Grey (pictured) was jailed for three years in March last year for waving aggressively at a retired midwife who went on to fall into the path of an oncoming car which killed her
Grey shouted ‘Get off the f****** pavement’ as a retired midwife approached her on the pavement
CCTV footage showed Ms Ward falling into the road moments before she was struck by a car
He added: ‘She is happy to be granted bail.’
Another pal and neighbour Robert Reed told our website: ‘She has been granted bail and has left prison yesterday evening.
‘I welcomed her home and we had a brief hug before she went off to the Aldi store to buy bits and bobs.
‘One of our friends had picked her up from jail and we are all so happy to have her back. She is in good spirits and is thrilled to be home.’
She had spent one year behind bars at HMP Peterborough.
Grey returned to her adapted flat in a gated complex in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, owned and maintained by the Papworth Trust, which had been ‘sparkly cleaned’ by her neighbours.
Mr Ramsey said that Grey, now 50, was also ‘pleased and relieved’ at the prospect of her name being cleared if her appeal is successful, and had told friends: ‘I’m not a killer!’
Speaking after three judges at the Appeal Court this week gave her the go ahead to contest her conviction, he said: ‘Auriol was very upset at being jailed in the first place.’
The retired stone mason, 78, who has regularly visited her in jail and last saw her inside on Saturday, said: ‘Her friends, family and neighbours all thought it was totally ridiculous she had been convicted of manslaughter and given a custodial sentence.
‘She did too, and has always maintained she is not a killer.’
A spokesperson for the Criminal Appeal Office told MaiOnline: ‘Auriol Grey has been granted unconditional bail pending her appeal against conviction.
‘She has been released from custody. It is anticipated the appeal will be listed for hearing in May 2024.’
Grey, who suffers cerebral palsy and partial blindness, denied manslaughter but was found guilty after a retrial.
She lost an appeal against her sentence in May last year but since instructed new lawyers who took her case to the Appeal Court in London.
Mr Ramsey said: ‘She was worried she would lose her flat after being given a three-year sentence but luckily it has not been taken away from her.
‘She has been looking forward to the thought of coming home.
‘In anticipation we have got it ready for her, it had been cleaned and it is sparkling!
‘She has many friends and neighbours here who care about her and will look out for her, and we will all give her a very warm welcome back.
‘She also has carers helping out.’
Grey repeatedly told police she ‘couldn’t remember’ details of the incident which led to Ms Ward’s death
Grey left the scene of the collision before emergency services arrived and went to a local supermarket
CCTV footage showed Celia Ward (pictured with her husband David) wobble into the road in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, where she was struck by a VW Passat
He added: ‘She is pleased about the appeal hearing, and the fact her conviction could be quashed.
‘She just wants to get on with her life.
‘She did not attend the hearing but was allowed to watch proceedings via video link from the Governor’s office at HMP Peterborough.’
Grey has few surviving family members – her mother Verna Grey, 87, from Sudbury, Suffolk, is not in the ‘best health’ and has rarely been able to visit her in jail.
She has a businessman brother-in-law living in Chiswick, West London.
Her father and sister are both deceased.
Grey was caught on CCTV gesticulating at grandma Celia Ward, 77, while shouting at her to ‘get off the f****g pavement’ in Huntingdon in October 2020.
A spokesperson for the Criminal Appeal Office said ‘This case was heard on Tuesday, and the application for leave to appeal conviction was granted.
‘Another hearing date will be set in due course for the final outcome of the appeal.
‘The court granted liberty to counsel for the appellant to lodge an application for bail.’
Ben Rose, of Hickman & Rose solicitors, who are representing Grey, said: ‘Auriol Grey is an autistic, disabled person with impaired vision.
‘In a case such as this, the prosecution is required to prove to the jury that she intended to cause Mrs Ward harm, or fear of harm.
‘We say this did not happen, and as a result will ask the Court of Appeal when the case is heard in May to quash Ms Grey’s conviction.’
Mr Ramsey told how Grey had appeared in ‘good spirits’ whenever he has visited her – and before being released yesterday.
He said: ‘She has been inside for a year and doing OK considering. She is being well looked after in a special wing because of her needs, and just keeps her head down and doesn’t cause any trouble.
‘She’s a bright and very literate lady and instead of going loopy inside she’s put her mind to good use.
‘She’s always reading and doing quizzes and is even learning advanced maths from another inmate.
‘She’s very knowledgeable and people there are amazed by what she knows.
‘But she can’t wait to get out of prison, and get on with her life.
‘She feels she has been wronged.’