A French driver who was under the influence of drugs when he struck and killed a British lawyer while she was jogging in Burgundy has been sentenced to four years in prison. Sian Watson, 35, was running with her husband David on Avenue Charles-de-Gaulle in July when she was hit by a car driven by Alexandre Jacquet, 44. He tested positive for three drugs, including heroin and cocaine, which he had taken two days earlier.
David witnessed the incident and saw his wife die at the scene despite emergency services' efforts. On Wednesday, the Dijon judicial court sentenced Jacquet to four years in prison, with an additional 18 months suspended, for involuntary manslaughter aggravated by drug use.
David paid tribute to his wife on social media, describing her as 'my one, my whole life, my beautiful, intelligent, feisty, tenacious, determined, incredible wife.' He added: 'I wanted to grow old with this amazing woman and she was taken from us far too soon. I don't know what I will do now, I am broken.'
Sian graduated from Jesus College, Oxford, with a master's degree in chemistry before becoming a solicitor at Osborne Clarke in London, where she was recently promoted to associate director. Her firm described her as a 'vital member of the team' who was 'fiercely intelligent, well liked, kind and had a wry sense of humour.'
A JustGiving page in her memory has raised over £10,000 for the Access Project, a charity that helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds access top universities. David wrote on the page: 'Sian was this fiercely intelligent, bright burning star, full of happiness and joy, who cared deeply for others and always took the time to help others achieve their full potential.'
