Widow 'never blamed' driver who killed husband A widow whose husband was knocked down and killed, hugged the driver outside the courtroom as he escaped a jail sentence. Gerrard Machin, 77, failed to return home after he went to get the morning newspapers in December 2011. His wife Patricia told BBC Radio 5 live Breakfast she had "never blamed" Brian Williamson, 29, who was found guilty of causing death by careless driving. Mrs Machin said that Mr Williamson should "not see this tragedy as a setback but a stepping stone to wisdom for the future."