‘Heavy burden to carry’: Man sentenced over fatal Tablelands collision

A moment’s inattention cost a much-admired mother-of-four her life and will be a burden the young man sentenced over the collision will carry for the rest of his life, a Mareeba magistrate has said.

The relatives of a woman killed on the road on her way home from work shook and held back sobs as Mareeba magistrate Thomas Braes outlined mitigating factors for the 23-year-old facing sentencing over the incident.

Mine worker Andrew Palmeri, 23, of River View near Mackay, pleaded guilty in Mareeba Magistrates Court on December 22 to not driving with due care and attention.

Police prosecutor Sgt Trevor Woodman said on January 27 this year, Palmeri and his partner were in a Ford Ranger travelling toward Mareeba on the Kennedy Highway about 5pm and turned right to go in to the Mareeba Drive in Theatre.

Mareeba nurse Jane Wheeler died when she was thrown from her motorcycle in a collision on the Kenneday Highway on January 27. Picture: Facebook

Sgt Woodman said Palmeri gave way to one vehicle before making the turn before colliding with a motorcycle ridden by 61-year-old nurse Jane Wheeler, on her way home from work at Mareeba Hospital just 8km away.

She died at the scene.

The court heard Palmeri, who wiped away tears as he stood before the magistrate, was not speeding in the 100k/ph zone and mandatory testing did not reveal the presence of drugs or alcohol. He was supported by four family members.

Magistrate Braes received nine written victim impact statements and Mrs Wheeler’s brother Andrew Johnson addressed the court.

He said he learned of Jane’s death while returning with his family for a holiday and was so shocked he could not speak.

Mrs Wheeler, a nurse for more than 43 years and mentor to many, died at the scene of the accident on January 27. Picture: Facebook

“As the days passed the reality set in, I travelled to see where the collision had occurred and it further compounded the trauma and the loss of my sister – it is an open stretch of road with a complete and clear view of traffic travelling in both directions,” Mr Johnson said.

“How did this happen? Why did this happen? It’s beyond comprehension.

“There were two young ladies putting flowers there for Jane, they were distraught, upset, inconsolable, they told me Jane was their mentor – 43-plus years,” Mr Johnson said.

Palmeri’s barrister Rachelle Logan tendered a letter of apology to Mr Wheeler and his four children, should they choose to accept it, and said her client was 22 years old at the time of the accident and “simply did not see” Mrs Wheeler.

The late Jane Wheeler's brother Andrew John and widower Bruce Wheeler were present at Mareeba Magistrates Court for the sentencing of the man whose inattention resulted in the death of the 61-year-old nurse. Picture: Bronwyn Farr

She said Palmeri had no criminal history and was of good character.

Sentencing Palmeri to six months’ disqualification, a $10,000 fine and declining to record a conviction, Magistrate Braes said Palmeri carried a heavy burden.

“This is obviously a very serious offence in that the consequence was that a loved and respected person has passed away, that’s obviously a very heavy burden for you to carry now and through the rest of your life,” he said.

Outside court, Mr Wheeler said he was hoping a community service order would have been imposed on Palmeri.

Mr Johnson said “anybody can write a cheque out for ten grand these days, he’s a miner, it’s probably two weeks’ pay”.

“He killed a person going home from work who serviced the community her whole life, I don’t give a s*** about mitigating factors or how old he was.

“He deliberately turned in front of her on a straight stretch of road, he killed my sister,” he said.

Mrs Wheeler was mother to Jackson, Robert, William and Emma.

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