High Court Upholds 11 Year Jail Term for Drink Driver in Fatal Pedestrian Crash

The High Court on September 7 upheld an 11 year jail sentence for a 46 year old Australian man who killed a pedestrian while driving drunk in April 2023. The man, a Singapore permanent resident, struck a 64 year old retiree on Dunearn Road at a speed between 111kmh and 122kmh in a 70kmh zone. The impact was so severe that the victim's body was severed into three parts. The driver's two children, aged three and four at the time, were also injured in the crash. The man is not named due to a gag order protecting the identities of his children.

Justice Christopher Tan dismissed appeals from both the prosecution and the defence. The prosecution had sought to increase the sentence to 12 years and nine months, while the defence argued for a term between six years and four months and eight years. The judge noted that while there was merit to both arguments, the collective result meant the original sentence remained appropriate. He agreed with the prosecution that the initial 30 per cent sentencing discount for the guilty plea was too high, but he also found that the starting term should be tempered downwards due to factors including a voluntary restitution of over 56,000 dollars made to the victim's family.

The man had pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and repeat drink driving. He had been driving home from a child's birthday party after consuming wine. In addition to the 11 year jail term, the man faces a 12,000 dollar fine and a 15 year driving ban. He is scheduled to begin his sentence on September 14.