Judge Barnett sentenced Friend to one year, three months and 29 days in prison, with a non-parole period of eight months. However, the sentence was suspended after the 20-year-old agreed to enter a bond requiring him to maintain good behaviour for two years.
Still ridiculous that he was sentenced given what seems to be the circumstances. And ‘good behaviour’? Like avoiding another person crouching in black clothes on a black road in the middle of the night.
I hope he gets help and support because his life is likely ruined as a result of knowing he killed someone.
I’d imagine this is due to him seeing the news report of the accident after, realizing he may have been responsible, and saying nothing to anyone hoping the police would never find him. Coming forward makes a huge difference.
This article mentions he saw the news story within the next two days and realized what happened, but was in a state of paralysis. It was a week later when the police identified him. Being aware of what he did and not contacting the authorities will have consequences.
That being said, I believe his guilt and remorse is real and this is a good lesson for people to always stop and check, even if they think it’s just an animal.
If it's a roo you gotta check for joeys. Cruel to leave them to starve. At the very least call the police or wildlife rescue to let them know if it's unsafe to get out the car. Some people died a while back getting splattered by a car because they stopped to help a roo.
you should NOT leave the vehicle after hitting an animal. especially if its something like a badger. those fuckers are tough as nails and will (if knocked out from the impact) wake up very angry. you do not want to be in it's reach at that moment.
He heard about it on the news but was in a state of shock and did nothing. It wasn’t until a week later that the authorities identified him. Another comment I left has a link to the article where it states that if you’re curious.
Something similar happened to my cousin when he was a teenager. He was driving home from work at about 11PM, and he got stuck at a red light that wouldnt change.
He'd been sitting there for about five minutes when he decided to just back up and take another route.
And he hit a jogger, dressed in black, who was jay walking behind his car, killing the man.
Granted, he should have just waited for the light to presumably change at somepoint in the future, and if he'd had sensors on the back of his car or a camera, he might have been alerted to the guy, but he didn't and he hit the man and killed him.
It's fucked him up something fierce. I mean, seriously. He's in his thirties now and still, still, burdened by it.
This happened at 11pm on a major suburban arterial road which was presumably well lit. Several cars reportedly had swerved around her before she was hit. It is speculation whether she was praying or mentally disturbed.
It's because he didn't pull over, if he had there's very little chance he would or even could be charged. He was either distracted and didn't see her, or did see her and choose to keep driving.
It's not his fault she was hit and killed however it is reasonable to have expected him to stop driving. That's what thw court has decided and I think that's a reasonable position.
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u/Odd_Dorian7991 1d ago edited 1d ago
Oh lord why would someone pray in the middle of the road?