UK - Friends escape jail over M-cat drug death of Aimee, 20

[edgarshade]

Yorkshire Post

Published on 29/05/2013 14:37

With reader comments

TWO friends of a Leeds woman who died after taking the party drug M-Cat have been given suspended prison sentences for supplying the substance and trying to lay blame on the tragic 20-year-old. The parents of victim Aimee Costello say they hope her death will serve as a warning against the drugs. Jessica Hooks, 21, and Kirstie McInnes, 22, admitted perverting the course of justice after telling investigating officers Aimee had supplied the drug. They sobbed in the dock as they were handed prison sentences of ten and six months respectively, both suspended for 18 months, at Leeds Crown Court by Judge Geoffrey Marson QC, who told them: “If ever a case demonstrated the dangerousness of even class B drugs this is it.

“Many people seem to think that drugs like this, of the M-cat genre, are harmless. They are dangerous. And as this case demonstrates they can kill.

Chief Inspector Melanie Jones, of West Yorkshire Police, said: “The trauma the Costello family have been through since Aimee’s untimely death is every parents’ worst nightmare. “Aimee died after taking a drug called M-Cat or Mephedrone as it’s officially known. While this drug was banned by the government in 2010 we are aware that many producers are circumventing the law by slightly altering its chemical composition and selling variations as ‘legal highs’. “While we are pleased the government has taken steps to stop the sale of this drug the industry that supports its manufacture is fast-moving and is constantly seeking new ways to exploit loopholes in the law and sell the drugs legally. “With that in mind it remains vital that people are aware of the dangers of association with party drugs and legal highs.”

More...
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news...l-over-m-cat-drug-death-of-aimee-20-1-5720267

Also in Daily Mail

With reader comments

Woman, 20, dies after taking party drug 'M-cat'. Now her two friends face court for giving it to her

More: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-dies-women-admit-supplying-class-B-drug.html

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

That sucks.

Better look next time.

People still won’t accept that when the drugs are in your hands, it is you that have the power to use it correctly, or dies using it badly...

 

[Bob Loblaw]

When are we going to start charging firearm dealers with murder when someone shoots themselves in the fase?

 

[Lazaraus45]

When are we going to start charging firearm dealers with murder when someone shoots themselves in the fase?

selling someone a firearm doesn't come with an inherent risk that they're going use it in a way that's harmful to themself, selling someone drugs does, regardless if it was proven a firearm dealer sold someone a weapon knowing full well they intended to turn it on themselves i imagine they would be charged.

 

[Psychedelic Jay]

selling someone a firearm doesn't come with an inherent risk that they're going use it in a way that's harmful to themself, selling someone drugs does, regardless if it was proven a firearm dealer sold someone a weapon knowing full well they intended to turn it on themselves i imagine they would be charged.

Whoever sold it is irrelevant.

You are responsible for purchase, measurement, and final usage of drugs.

Tons of things that are safe when used responsibly end up in the wrong hands. They are dealt with or in this case deal with themselves...

Education is the key. Punishment isn’t.

It is morally wrong to sell alcohol to an alcoholic, but yet it is legal...