As it happened: Brisbane on Thursday, December 5
A teenage boy who caused a crash that killed three women and injured a fourth while speeding in a stolen car has been sentenced to six years’ detention.
Nurse Sheree Robertson, 52, Kelsie Davies, 17, and pastor Michale Chandler, 29 were killed after their vehicles collided after being struck by a stolen car driven by the youth.
A fourth woman, Kaylah Behrens, 23, was critically injured.
Friends and family of the victims filled the Maroochydore District Court on Thursday, as District Judge Gary Long concluded a sentencing hearing for the youth that began in November.
Judge Long said the youth’s offending resulted in catastrophic events and “horrendous consequences from your egregious behaviour”.
The youth, now aged 14, of Bundaberg, had previously pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing three deaths and grievous bodily harm while speeding.
He also pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property, two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle, stealing and unlicensed driving.
Judge Long said no sentence could undo the “grave losses and impacts that have resulted from this offending”.
The youth had been involved with child protection services since the age of eight and had been exposed to serious domestic violence and drug use.
Judge Long said he had to take this background into account, as well as the youth’s cognitive impairment from a traumatic brain injury that affected his rational decision-making and impulse control.
The youth had convictions recorded and will be released in just over two years, after serving 60 per cent of the detention period and already spending 583 days in custody.
AAP
