A Canberra P-plater who hit and killed a cyclist on Lady Denman Drive last year has been sentenced to three years in jail by the ACT Supreme Court.
Ronan Jason Grey, 20, pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death, after he lost control of his car, before hitting cyclist Alicia Jauregui.
The 36-year-old from Uruguay had only been in Australia for a few weeks, working as a tennis coach.
Today, her family watched the sentencing via video link as Acting Justice Paul Slattery remarked on the silence her loss had left and their “immense, impossible-to-fill void”.
He said it was impossible to “assuage the grief”.
But he also noted Grey’s remorse expressed in a letter to the court.
“You accept you have deprived the world of an exceptional woman,” Acting Justice Slattery told Grey.
Uninsured, unregistered and unroadworthy vehicle
The court heard the crash happened when Grey had illegally overtaken another car, and then spun out of control, hitting Ms Jauregui side on.
Acting Justice Slattery listed the injuries Ms Jauregui sustained, which included a serious head injury, broken ribs and fractures to the thoracic and lumbar spine.
Bystanders and then paramedics tried to revive Ms Jauregui without success.
Ronan Jason Grey has been sentenced to three years in jail after hitting and killing a cyclist on Lady Denman Drive last year. (ABC News: Matt Roberts)
“The injuries suffered by [Ms Jauregui] were not survivable,” Acting Justice Slattery said.
Grey had only just bought the car, which had failed a registration test due to several needed repairs, including to his bald tyres.
At the time of the crash, the car was unregistered, uninsured and unroadworthy, the court heard.
“You drove … despite knowing what was wrong with the car … and you drove dangerously,” Acting Justice Slattery said.
Grey had recently crashed another car, the first one he had owned.
On the day in question, Grey said he had been emotional, driving to deliver a letter to an estranged friend, something that was also remarked on by the judge.
‘Excessive speed’ a factor in death of cyclist Alicia Celaya Jaureguiin, police say
“You have regretted your choices. You were driving when you were emotionally upset,” Acting Justice Slattery said.
“You ignored warnings in relation to the road worthiness of the vehicle.”
Acting Justice Slattery said the dangerous driving increased Grey’s moral culpability.
He has been sentenced to three years in jail, but that will be suspended after 15 months, when he will serve a three-year good behaviour order under supervision.
Grey will also be banned from driving for two years.
Grey is already in jail, after he asked his bail be revoked in August after a sentencing hearing.