Killer driver gets 7 years
NICK CLARK
November 19, 2008 10:17am
A DRUNK driver who had lost his licence 10 times before killing a woman in a horror crash, has been jailed for seven years.
Jason William Harris, 37, of Pyenna Ave, Kings Meadows was driving while disqualified when he killed a 49-year-old woman in a crash near Fingal in the state's North.
Harris received a six year non-parole period and a 15 year disqualification from driving.
Harris pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Dawn Irene Lodge a fortnight ago.
Justice Shan Tennent's sentence was equal to the toughest sentence ever handed down for motor manslaughter in Tasmania.
However, a distraught Cheryl Pursell, the sister of the Mrs Lodge, said the sentence was not tough enough.
"When you take a life you should get life," Mrs Pursell's daughter, Kym 14, said.
Justice Tennent said Harris was an accident waiting to happen.
"In this case you drove dangerously for one and half hours, you drove at speed erratically and were under the influence of alcohol and cannabis and were in breach of a order of disqualification," she said.
"The consequences were the worst imaginable for the family."
She said Harris's driving record was appalling.
Crown prosecutor John Ransom told the court in a hearing that Harris had been disqualified from driving many times -- the last three weeks before the fatal crash on January 12, 2008.
HARRIS'S APPALLING RECORD:
October, 1988: Unaccompanied learner.
April 1991: 12 months disqualification for driving without due care and while disqualified.
January 1992: Six months ban for speeding.
September 1992: 12 months ban for driving while disqualified.
March 1995: Nine months ban for exceeding 0.05 (0.111).
June 1995: 15 months ban for exceeding 0.05 (0.151).
September 1995: 12 months ban for driving while disqualified.
July 1998: 12 months ban for driving while disqualified and exceeding 0.05 (0.72).
June 1999: Eight months ban for driving while disqualified.
July 2007: Three months ban for excessive demerit points.
December 2007: Three months prison wholly suspended and two years ban for exceeding 0.05 (0.128). |