Family pay tribute to hit-and-run crash victim Clare Gafan

Clare Gafan died in hospital on October 25, 2021, three days after she had been hit by a car being driven by Shaun Hall in Suffolk Road.

Hall, aged 40 and of Derby, had accelerated and driven toward a group, which included 40-year-old Ms Gafan.

Everyone apart from Ms Gafan had been able to leap out of the way of the vehicle.

Hall was found guilty of her manslaughter following a trial at Winchester Crown Court in December last year.

He was sentenced to 12 years’ imprisonment for the offence at a hearing on Friday, January 6.

Shaun Hall (Image: Dorset Police)

• Read more: Man jailed for killing woman in hit-and-run crash in Bournemouth

The defendant received a further two-year sentence to run consecutively for a burglary he admitted carrying out in Southampton days before the fatal crash.

In a statement following the sentencing hearing, Ms Gafan’s family said: “Losing Clare has been hard for all of us and left a huge hole in our lives. Clare was an incredibly special woman who had a family that loved her unconditionally.

"Clare did not have a bad bone in her body. She had the biggest heart and would never have caused harm to anyone.

“She was loving, caring, funny and crazy, which is why we all loved her.

“She would always try and spread positive energy no matter what mood she was in, and she would always put other people before herself.

“This was true to form when we discovered that she had opted to donate her organs upon her death. She was truly selfless."

Detective Inspector Mark Jenkins, of the Major Crime Investigation Team (MCIT), said: “First and foremost, our thoughts remain with the family and friends of Clare who sadly died following the collision.

"This incident was the subject of a detailed investigation, which allowed us to piece together what happened both during the collision and in the days leading up to it.

"The deliberate actions of Hall had fatal consequences for Clare and he showed no regard for what happened by leaving the scene in the way that he did. I am grateful for the efforts of the investigation and prosecution team in ensuring Hall faced justice.”

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