Consequences

[Peter Ward]

I was saddened to read a young family was decimated recently in Sydney by an intoxicated driver in a 4WD. I cannot imagine their grief with 3 of six children senselessly mowed down while walking on the footpath.

I jurisdictions such as Germany the consequences for such appalling driver behaviour are dire. Just injuring someone while driving intoxicated will see you facing massive legal costs and wearing an orange jump-suit for a couple of years, with very little prospect of ever driving again.

What's the bet the turd that killed those kids has a million excuses and gets off with an "intensive corrections order". There should be real consequences for such behaviour. It will be interesting to see how the judiciary handles this low-life.

[bobson (Bob)]

I just saw it on news this morning. It made me very upset. Sadly the morons who designed the law are most likely the ones who cant live normal life without drinking. Don't get me wrong, you can drink as much as you want or use any kind of drug you like as long as you don't affect others.
I could never understand law makers how did they come up with zero alcohol tolerance for P drivers, bus drivers, pilots etc. But if you drive your own car you can have a few??
It seems to me those who created the law think its OK if you kill a few innocent people but if you drive a bus or airplane that's different because more lives can be affected.

[AndyG (Andy)]

Peter, I absolutely agree with you on this. Not that you'd hear about it on the news, but our recent juvenile car theft issue in Townsville had many similarities.

Thankfully, few lives were lost, though it was mostly loss of property (the stolen vehicle + what was "collected" on the way).

I won't cite examples as the demographic is clear, and this thread will become a ruckus/be locked. The common theme is there were zero consequences for the offenders, with many racking up 30+ offences between court appearances. In short, your concerns would be well founded in my locality.

[Peter Ward]

Originally Posted by AndyG

...... The common theme is there were zero consequences for the offenders, with many racking up 30+ offences between court appearances.....

Indeed Quite odd how we allow such tolerance, when the Germans simply won't accept any excuse for injuries inflicted from drink driving.. Do not pass Go. Do not collect $200. Go directly to Jail.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Yes Peter .... Very Sad indeed...My heart goes out to those affected by this tragic event.

I hope the Courts allow the Parents to read out a ' Victim Statement ' straight in the face of this ' Low Life ' ...each Parent 1 by 1 .

If I was the ' Judge ' ...my sentence would be ...minimum 35 years Jail ( for the death of 4 children ) ... no possible means of ' Parole '.....never to be issued a Driving License EVER , even on release, that's if the other inmates don't get to him first.

and I hope the ' gravity ' of what he has done will ' torment ' him for the rest of his days.....for I know the Parents will grieve for their loss EVERYDAY.

All of this....because he chose to ' DRINK ' and then ' DRIVE ' ( 3 times over the limit )

We've all been ' hammered ' over decades with AD's on TV regarding Driving while under the influence ...HE HAS NO EXCUSE...EVER...!!

One final comment....I wonder if he has children and a Wife , who now have to suffer the ' SHAME ' he has placed upon them....through no fault of their own...!!

Col...

[spiezzy]

unfortunately the courts in OZ will never give him 35 years and I dare say he will get parole in the future its sad this happened but the courts here have to be tougher on dirt bag oxygen thieves like this as you said Col the parents have to live with this for the rest of there lives believe me i know am going through it my self
but this guy will plead he had a rough up bringing and is a no hoper and the courts will go easy on him I certainly hope this is not the case and he gets a real hard arse Judge .

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

I just saw this ' low life ' on TV ...it's reported he is not cooperating with Police..... he's refusing to be interviewed . ....scum

[Startrek (Martin)]

Peter,
I couldn’t agree more with your comments
Elements of our society and the legal system are way to forgiving on those who are irresponsible individuals when it comes innocent lives being taken especially children. Words can’t explain that poor families pain and suffering at the moment

[ab1963 (Andrew)]

Unfortunately he will get away with minimal punishment we all know that but if a genuine battler hits hard times through loss of job etc he will lose everything and in severe cases could do time would like to say more but i get myself into enough trouble on here saying it the way i see it so just read between the lines........

[leon]

Hey Col I don't get that, he refuses to be interviewed simple, just lock him in a cell till he talks, as long as it takes.

Leon

[multiweb (Marc)]

That's just one guy. To mow down 4 kids like that, something's terribly wrong with him even without alcohol involved. I hope though they don't make a law and penalise everybody stating you have to be zero alcohol to drive because one bloody moron should never have been on a public road behind a wheel.

[raymo]

Spot on, Leon; and he is just one Marc, but there are plenty of others.
raymo

[leon]

Marc, was it an accident because he couldn't drive properly, because he was drunk, or did he do it deliberately, surly not the later


Leon

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Originally Posted by leon

Hey Col I don't get that, he refuses to be interviewed simple, just lock him in a cell till he talks, as long as it takes.

Leon

That's what the Police are doing....he's in his cell and refusing to talk.

[billdan (Bill)]

Now these low life scammers are getting in on the tragedy asking for donations which they keep for themselves.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-...crash/11923302

[blindman]

Is it guy whose dad is top cop in QLD?

[ngcles]

Hi Peter & All,

Having dealt with a great many people in Court as the prosecutor who have committed driving offences of similar gravity, I'd say this person, assuming a reasonable record as a driver can expect something like 7 years with a non-parole period of about 4 years.

As the conduct alleged is one set of circumstances that involved three deaths, the three sentences will be served concurrently. In effect the maximum he/she can be sentenced to is 14 years. An automatic disqualification of 3 years applies and since the driver is going to spend somewhat longer than that in gaol, is (unfortunately) moot.

Personally, I'd like to see people in circumstances like this commence their disqualification upon release from gaol -- and I'd think 5 years from that date would be appropriate. You have to give people some light at the end of the tunnel (rather than disqualifying them for life) or they just keep driving anyway.

Yes, I'd still say 7/4 isn't enough. Personally if I were doing the sentencing I'd be thinking about 10/7, but I wouldn't expect more unless the individual has a bad record -- particularly prior drink-driving offences.

Best,

L.

[FlashDrive (Poppy)]

Originally Posted by blindman

Is it guy whose dad is top cop in QLD?

Just on the News ....he is the son of a Retired Chief Detective in NSW ...!!

[AndyG (Andy)]

Originally Posted by Peter Ward

Indeed Quite odd how we allow such tolerance, when the Germans simply won't accept any excuse for injuries inflicted from drink driving..

Indeed, as a non drinker I fully agree. I don't wish to stop others drinking whilst I don't - I'm not a total stick-in-the-mud. But as you've suggested - something unnecessary can end somebody elses' everything.

Interesting about different countries' rules. In Japan, my Wife tells me that it's very rare for any party to get away without punishment. Even those who we'd consider the "victim" (in a vehicle-vehicle crash) are penalised for not avoiding the crash. An oversimplification, but that's the vibe.

My ex Boss was Taiwanese. Whilst we were there, I asked why there was so many damn scooters. His answer: "If there is ever a car-scooter accident, it is not possible for the scooter rider to be at fault". So basically scooter riders did what they want. Aside from personal injury, they were legally untouchable.

I'm keen to hear Ngcles' insight into why magistrates can be so lenient. I know little of law, so anything I currently think is honestly baseless opinion.

[Ukastronomer (Jeremy)]

Have you any idea just how many s**m now DRUG drive as well

I used to drink like any young person even middle aged and still like a drink "now and again" I have NEVER even drank the night before driving, being a single father I could not live with what may be

What amazes me is thet in the UK you can cause death b y dangerous driving and spend less time in priston than assault.

What about Anne Sacoolas: Identity revealed of diplomat's wife who fatally ... 9 Oct 2019 - Harry Dunn's family say it is "appalling" and "inhumane" that she is able to leave the country after their son's death.

Who killed a UK biker and lied to leave the UK and now the US president says she will NOT come back to face court, so much for extradition.