A 16-year-old boy has been sentenced to five years’ jail for killing a pregnant mother in a central Hobart car crash.
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Justice Helen Wood’s sentencing in the Supreme Court in Hobart means the youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, will spend at least two and a half years in custody.
His sentence will be backdated to January 22.
Justice Wood sentenced the youth as an adult, saying the maximum two year sentence under the Youth Justice Act was “plainly inadequate”.
Justice Wood said the sentence she handed down was a “heavy” one.
She described the youth’s driving as “chillingly dangerous”, and said he showed a reckless disregard for life.
The youth had pleaded guilty to one count of manslaughter for killing 24-year-old Sarah Paino in the January 22 crash.
He has been in custody at the Ashley Youth Detention Centre since he was detained by police shortly after the crash.
Ms Paino died after a stolen black RAV4, driven by the youth, collided with her car.
Her two-year-old son suffered minor injuries in the crash, while paramedics safely delivered her unborn son, Caleb, at the Royal Hobart Hospital.
Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates told the court in May that the youth had been driving at a minimum speed of 110 kilometres per hour when the car ran a red light and crashed into Ms Paino’s car.
It heard the youth said “catch ya’s later” to his three underage passengers following the crash, before fleeing the scene.
Mr Coates had urged Justice Wood to sentence the youth as an adult, rather than under the Youth Justice Act.
During emotive victim impact statements Ms Paino’s family and partner, Daniel Stirling, told the court of the pain Ms Paino’s death had caused them.
Ms Paino’s mother Jane said every single thing about the crash had changed her live forever and made her “worst nightmare become a nightmare”.
The boy’s lawyer, Kim Baumeler, said her client’s behaviour had improved since Ms Paino’s death.
Justice Wood said the grief suffered by Ms Paino’s family was immeasurable.
She described Ms Paino, her partner Daniel Stirling and their son Jordan as a happy family and said Ms Paino was a “happy and devoted mother”.
Justice Wood said the youth’s learning difficulties and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder lessened his criminal culpability to some degree, but said there was very little that mitigated the seriousness of the crime.
