A teenager who killed an “innocent young couple” and her unborn baby in a crash in south-east Queensland on Australia Day last year has been jailed for 10 years, but will only serve 60% of the time. condemnation.
Key points:
- The teenager will turn six years old for the murder of Katherine Leadbetter, Matthew Field and her unborn baby.
- Judge Burns said the teen had no intention of killing the couple
- The court said it had shown “shame shame and remorse”
The 18-year-old was under the influence of cannabis and alcohol when he passed a red light and collided with a crane and rolled the stolen 4×4.
Katherine Leadbetter, who was 24 weeks pregnant, and her partner Matthew Field were walking their dogs in Alexandra Hills, east Brisbane, when the out-of-control car crashed into them at the intersection.
The couple died instantly.
The teenager, who was not injured, fled the scene, but was later caught and arrested by a resident after he tried to steal another nearby car.
After his arrest, he was charged with two counts of murder, but has since pleaded guilty to minor charges of manslaughter.
He has also admitted to several other charges, including driving offenses.
Since he was 17 when he committed a crime, he is being treated as a minor and cannot be identified.
Space to play or pause, M to mute, left and right arrows to search, up and down arrows for volume. The images show the 4×4 crashing into another car before the fatal crash in Alexandra Hills.
Drugs and alcohol “daily”
The court learned that the teen had been using drugs and alcohol on a daily basis at the time and had since expressed remorse for his behavior, acknowledging “what he has taken” from the families.
He spent almost 18 months in detention, during which time he completed his 12th year and obtained other degrees, as well as committing to mental health and alcohol rehabilitation services, according to the court.
When sentencing, Judge John Burns told the court that the consequences of the teen’s “especially hateful” offense resulted in “the heartbreaking death of an innocent young couple,” but he admitted that he had no intention to kill them.
“The facts are indisputable,” he said.
“This is a case of gross negligence and should surely fall into the worst category of such cases.”
Katherine Leadbetter’s mother, Jeannie Thorne (in white), made an impact statement to the victim yesterday. Mr. Field’s family joined her in thanking the public for their support shortly after the crash. (Provided by: Queensland Police Service)
After considering the teen’s first guilty plea, his steps toward rehabilitation and “genuine remorse and embarrassment,” Judge Burns ordered his release after serving six years.
Judge Burns told the teen that there was no sentence he could serve that would never be appropriate for families who would suffer “irreparable grief and sorrow.”
“This procedure will do nothing to end their pain; you have left them with this until the end of their days,” he said.
During a sentencing hearing in Brisbane yesterday, family members detailed their grief over losing their “beautiful partner,” with several people reading the victims’ impact statements to the Supreme Court.
The relatives of Mr. Field and Mrs. Leadbetter left the room when distressing images were played showing the teen’s irregular and dangerous driving during the 20 minutes before the crash, as well as the timing of the impact from various angles.
Crown Attorney Todd Fuller told the court that the teen’s “reckless” and “dangerous” driving had been to “satisfy his own selfish needs.”
“And to put other road users and others at risk, that risk came on this occasion with respect to Mr. Field and Ms. Leadbetter,” he said.
Mr. Field and Mrs. Leadbetter on Christmas 2020, showing their baby’s ultrasound. (Facebook: Matty Field)
Posted 57 minutes ago 57 minutes ago Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 5:47 AM, updated 18 minutes ago 18 minutes ago Wednesday, June 8, 2022 at 6:26 AM