Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis has been handed a four-month suspended jail term for death driving charges following a crash that claimed the life of 27-year-old Launceston woman Natalia Pearn. Ellis appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court this afternoon before Magistrate Chris Webster. Ellis was also disqualified from driving for two years. Ellis was driving in the wrong lane of the Midland Highway near Spring Hill on March 24 last year when his car struck Miss Pearn's hatchback, killing her instantly. Earlier this month Ellis lost an appeal against his guilty verdict in the Supreme Court of Tasmania by an interstate judge. March 24 - Ellis collides with Miss Pearn's car south of Oatlands on the Midland Highway April 30 - Attorney-General Brian Wightman appoints NSW lawyer John Pickering SC to investigate crash September 4 - Ellis is charged with causing death by negligent driving October 1 - Ellis pleads not guilty causing death by negligent driving in Hobart Magistrates Court December 5 - Chief Magistrate Michael Hill rules himself out of hearing case December 18 - Magistrate Chris Webster agrees to hear case November 7 - Amendments to DPP legislation come into affect, Ellis suspended from $500,000 pa job on full entitlements and Daryl Coates becomes acting DPP. March 24 - Week-long hearing begins June 26 - Ellis found guilty of causing death by negligent driving July 11 - Ellis lodges appeal against verdict July 15 - Interim stay placed on sentencing November 11 - Victorian judge David Harper hears appeal against guilty finding December 3 - Justice Harper dismisses appeal December 23 - Ellis sentenced by Mr Webster to four-month suspended jail term and disqualified from driving for two years
Tim Ellis walks into court this afternoon for sentencing. Photo: NEIL RICHARDSON
Director of Public Prosecutions Tim Ellis has been handed a four-month suspended jail term for death driving charges following a crash that claimed the life of 27-year-old Launceston woman Natalia Pearn.
Ellis appeared in the Hobart Magistrates Court this afternoon before Magistrate Chris Webster.
Ellis was also disqualified from driving for two years.
Ellis was driving in the wrong lane of the Midland Highway near Spring Hill on March 24 last year when his car struck Miss Pearn's hatchback, killing her instantly.
Earlier this month Ellis lost an appeal against his guilty verdict in the Supreme Court of Tasmania by an interstate judge.
TIM ELLIS TIMELINE
2013
March 24 - Ellis collides with Miss Pearn's car south of Oatlands on the Midland Highway
April 30 - Attorney-General Brian Wightman appoints NSW lawyer John Pickering SC to investigate crash
September 4 - Ellis is charged with causing death by negligent driving
October 1 - Ellis pleads not guilty causing death by negligent driving in Hobart Magistrates Court
December 5 - Chief Magistrate Michael Hill rules himself out of hearing case
December 18 - Magistrate Chris Webster agrees to hear case
November 7 - Amendments to DPP legislation come into affect, Ellis suspended from $500,000 pa job on full entitlements and Daryl Coates becomes acting DPP.
2014
March 24 - Week-long hearing begins
June 26 - Ellis found guilty of causing death by negligent driving
July 11 - Ellis lodges appeal against verdict
July 15 - Interim stay placed on sentencing
November 11 - Victorian judge David Harper hears appeal against guilty finding
December 3 - Justice Harper dismisses appeal
December 23 - Ellis sentenced by Mr Webster to four-month suspended jail term and disqualified from driving for two years
