RAH nurse Annette Susan La Roche jailed for running over ex-partner’s new lover
An RAH nurse has been jailed for running over her ex-partner’s new girlfriend – and for driving away rather than providing urgently-needed medical help.
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A Royal Adelaide Hospital nurse who ran down her ex-boyfriend’s new partner with her car while angry, upset and irrational has been jailed for more than three years.
On Thursday, the District Court ordered Annette Susan La Roche serve at least 19 months behind bars, and be disqualified from driving for 10 years upon her release.
In sentencing, Judge Geraldine Davison said she accepted La Roche acted in panic, believing the woman was approaching her car “in a menacing way”.
However, she said her ongoing flouting of bail conditions, use of drugs and two-year delay in offering an apology demonstrated her poor prospects for rehabilitation.
“You were angry and upset, you knew you should have stopped and rendered assistance but you failed to do so,” she said.
“This is all the more serious because you are a nurse – you have the expertise to help someone who has suffered serious injuries.
“You are not a good candidate for rehabilitation.”
La Roche, 38, of Davoren Park, pleaded guilty just before her trial to causing serious harm by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident.
The charges arise from an incident at Gulfview Heights on July 1, 2017, when she went to the home of her former partner to collect a small amount of money she claimed she was owed.
In sentencing, Judge Davison said La Roche beeped the horn and had her lights on high beam when her ex’s new partner approached the car “carrying something”.
La Roche panicked, reversed backwards and then forwards over the victim before fleeing the scene.
“You went to that address to remonstrate with your former partner and annoy him to get the money back,” she said.
“Your behaviour was reckless... you were behaving in a way that was irrational and you would not be deterred.”
The woman suffered serious and extensive injuries, including an ongoing brain injury and damage to her liver and pelvis.
Judge Davison noted La Roche handed herself in to police the next day, but said she attempted to “minimise” her offending when interviewed.
She said La Roche’s actions since the incident left much to be desired, including multiple breaches of home detention bail and positive drug tests.
“You wrote a letter of apology and I accept it is genuine,” she said.
“However the observation must be made it took a long time, two years, for you to realise and accept responsibility for your actions.”
She said immediate jail was the only appropriate penalty, given both the need to deter others and La Roche’s inability to abide by supervision conditions.