THE mother of a soldier killed in Afghanistan says she is heartened by the support given to her family after it was decided to prosecute her daughter for a car crash that killed her sister.
Mother-of-one Jennie Stone, 28, was killed minutes after dropping her son, Charlie, then aged nine, at Skipsea Primary School when her car hit a tree along the A165 at Fraisthorpe on February 18.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has now said it is in the public interest to prosecute her sister, Rosie-Ann Stone.
Rosie-Ann, 20, was driving her car on the same Hull to Bridlington road at the time of the crash.
The sisters' brother, Private Gregg Stone, 20, was killed by the Taliban in a daring rescue mission on June 3 last year.
Last night, their mother, Angie Stone, 56, said her family was lifted by a statement issued by Beverley and Holderness MP Graham Stuart, in which he spoke of his "regret" at the CPS decision, as well as comments posted by readers on the Mail's website.
Mrs Stone, who lives with her husband, Bob, in Atwick, near Hornsea, said: "Words can't describe how much it means to our family knowing people in East Yorkshire support us.
"What happened to Jennie was a tragic, tragic accident – no one was to blame for this."
Mrs Stone, who is considering launching a petition against the decision to prosecute, said the stress of knowing her daughter faces a possible trial in the new year is taking its toll on the entire family.
"We have to put grieving for Gregg and Jennie on hold," she said.
Fighting back tears, Mrs Stone said: "People say I am strong, but I am not. It's so hard."
For legal reasons, full details of the case against Rosie-Ann cannot yet be reported.
But many Mail readers have rallied round the Stone family, arguing it is not in the public interest to prosecute Rosie-Ann.
A reader, who gave their name as resifh, wrote: "The public's interest – what 'public'? They seem to be commenting on here and elsewhere to the contrary. Take note CPS."
Alec123 wrote: "This decision beggars belief, have this family not suffered enough already? In this matter the Police and the Crown Prosecution Service should be ashamed of themselves.
"For the love of God someone show this family some mercy."
Mrs Stone said: "Rosie-Ann has seen the summons, which accuses her of causing her sister's death. Hasn't she suffered enough?
"I know Jennie would not want her sister blamed for this."
Mr Stuart said: "I am sad to learn that after the suffering the Stone family has endured already the CPS has decided to prosecute Rosie-Ann.
"It is an important principle that politicians play no part in deciding who should be prosecuted, but I regret the CPS's decision and am desperately disappointed for the family.
"I have offered my support and hope that this prosecution will be the last of the tragedies to befall them as they continue to grieve for their lost children."
