Family calls for law change after death of mother-to-be Christina Barchetti

The family of a pregnant woman who died along with her unborn daughter following a collision with a 22-year-old driver are calling for a change in the law.

Hospital worker Christina Barchetti, who was driving 'perfectly properly' on the day she died last October, suffered fatal injuries when a car driven by Craig Connah crashed 'virtually head on' into hers on the A541 road at Pontblyddyn.

The 35-year-old died at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, where she worked, and her baby daughter Bella was still-born during an emergency Caesarian operation.

Today Judge Philip Hughes said that Connah was 'completely and solely to blame' for what happened.

There were a number of aggravating features, he said, including excessive speed and aggressive and intimidating driving.

Today, as Connah was jailed for five years and banned from driving for five years, Ms Barchetti's partner Graham Clarke said the family wanted to see a change in the law – because they felt that the death of baby Bella did not seem to count.

“We are working with our local MP to get the law changed over stillborn deaths,” he said in a statement issued on behalf of the family.

“This person was only charged with one death - that of Christina.

“He was not charged with the death of baby Bella even though even though she was born by Caesarean section and we held her in our arms.

“She did not have a chance to take one breath in the outside world. Her death did not seem to count.

“So we are working hard and are going to take it to the House of Commons to try and get this law changed."

The judge said he had taken into account the two lives that were lost.