Suspended sentences for bus owner and driver

A SCHOOL bus owner and driver have been given two year suspended jail sentences by a Malaga criminal court for negligent manslaughter.

Both admitted in court that they had been aware the bus had faulty brakes before an accident on November 23, 2006, during which the bus hit and killed a motorcyclist before crashing into five more cars, one a National Police patrol car, and injuring an officer.

The two accused, the Public Prosecutor insisted, knew about the faulty brakes as there had also been an issue with them nine days beforehand. They also lost their driving licences for three years and the bus owner has been banned from school transport services for four years.