Advocacy & Safety - Woman jailed over cyclist's death

http://www.dailytelegraph.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,6808375%255E1702,00.html

A MELBOURNE driver who killed a cyclist after falling asleep at the wheel of her car has been jailed for at least two years and three months.

The Victorian County Court heard that 37-year-old Lynette Satalich had attended an all-night dance party and taken one ecstasy tablet, two guarana tablets, and some alcohol before the crash at about 9.25 am at Brighton on January 28, 2001.

Satalich's car ploughed into three cyclists, killing 52-year-old schoolteacher, David Renowden, instantly.

Hugh Lowy, aged 50, suffered serious injuries, and the third cyclist escaped with minor injuries.

County Court judge Graeme Crossley said Satalich knew the danger of driving after staying away for most of the previous 24 hours.

Satalich, of Chelsea Heights, pleaded guilty to one count of culpable driving, one of negligently causing serious injury and one of possessing cannabis.

One wonders what the sentence would have been without the "possessing of cannabis" bit. It's good that she's at least doing some time, however I, for one, don't think it's enough.

Chris -- Under Australian law, how easy will it be for her to recover her driver's license when she gets out of jail? How likely is she to have to serve the entire "wrist-slap" term? I am, shall we say, MADD about this one.

At lest she got a jail sentence!

this happened in my hometown, here in MO, USA.

Rams Player Kills woman in DWI accident (http://www.caller2.com/autoconv/sportsus98/sportsus59.html)

he got off with no jail time and basically a slap on the wrist, like community service of talking to kids at preschools or something.

Also, some famous pedestrian advocate lady got run over here by a bus, no charges.

So, be grateful she got something, here she would have got off scot free most likely :(

Steve

Originally posted by John E
Chris -- Under Australian law, how easy will it be for her to recover her driver's license when she gets out of jail? How likely is she to have to serve the entire "wrist-slap" term? I am, shall we say, MADD about this one.

OK, I'm open to challenges on this one, but the wording of the article suggested that she'll serve the full two years three months if she gets good behaviour, parole and all that rubbish. However, what worries me is that she'll basically have no trouble getting her licence when she comes out as far as I know, meaning that if she doesn't learn her lesson from her time inside, nothing will change.

what is the difference with a person killing somebody with a gun, a bomb or knife, I am pretty sure, that, that person would probably get the death sentence, now if I wanted to kill somebody, I will just get behind the wheels of a car and crash the guys head, and plead guilty, then I get two years, wrong signal were giving out...

she should feel the agony of the people she has crash, by letting her under the wheels of a car,

Originally posted by orguasch
what is the difference with a person killing somebody with a gun, a bomb or knife, I am pretty sure, that, that person would probably get the death sentence, now if I wanted to kill somebody, I will just get behind the wheels of a car and crash the guys head, and plead guilty, then I get two years, wrong signal were giving out...

it is a decision made by a court.. I'm sure they found this case to ba an accident, and I think there was no intent of killing or injuring people..

I think we are safe....

How about we double the sentence and add that she can never drive a car again because she obviosuly cannot be trusted with the priviledge.

how easy will it be for her to recover her driver's license when she gets out of jail?
In cases like this the driver will always lose their licence for several years (2-10). This may be true for this case but it hasn't been mentioned for some reason. I have never heard of a case here where the drivers hasn't lost their licence.

CHEERS.

Mark