Family and friends of crash victim Michael Passmore angry at jail term for killer driver who went on to carry out violent home invasion

THE friends and family of a man killed by a drugged driver — who later assaulted an elderly man in a home invasion — have labelled as “pathetic” his minimum prison term of three-and-a-half years.

Father-of-three Michael Passmore died when a van driven by David Ewan Scott Edwards veered onto the wrong side of the Sturt Hwy near Barmera in August 2013. Picture: Supplied

THE friends and family of a man killed by a drugged driver — who later assaulted an elderly man in a home invasion — have labelled as “pathetic” his minimum prison term of three-and-a-half years.

David Ewan Scott Edwards had smoked cannabis before his van veered onto the wrong side of the Sturt Hwy and slammed head-on into a vehicle driven by father-of-three Michael Passmore in August 2013.

Mr Passmore, who was a CFS volunteer, died as his fellow brigade members arrived at the scene.

Edwards, 38, pleaded guilty to aggravated causing death by dangerous driving, as well as numerous offences arising from a drug-fuelled incident in which he broke into a Barmera home and assaulted a 79-year-old man while he was on bail in July 2014.

After using LSD and drinking alcohol, Edwards broke into the home and punched the elderly man as his wife hid behind a bedroom door.

Edwards used a piece of broken glass from the front door to cut the elderly man before running away and being arrested soon after.

He wrote a letter of apology over the incident — which he could barely remember — saying he was repulsed and ashamed of his own behaviour.

District Court chief judge Geoffrey Muecke today imposed a head sentence for both sets of offending of four years, 10 months and 21 days — including a previously suspended sentence for resisting police.

Outside court, Monash CFS brigade captain David Otto de Grancy said Mr Passmore’s family and friends were disappointed at the sentence.

“(We feel) quite numb, the sentence was pathetic. His three children don’t have a father anymore and he’s going to spend a pitiful time in jail,” Mr Otto de Grancy said.

“I’m sorry, but the justice system has failed again. (The family) were hoping for a tougher sentence, not expecting it, you know what the justice system is like.”

Mr Otto de Grancy was among those to arrive at the crash scene and said Mr Passmore had done all he could to avoid Edwards’ oncoming van.

“Mick tried to avoid him, we were there, Monash CFS in our own response area — our mate. And I can tell you, he tried his best,” he said.

Mr Otto de Grancy said he was sceptical about Edwards’ claims of remorse and determination to rehabilitate himself.

“They make up all these stories about he’s turned into such a good person in jail, but you’ve got no choice,” he said.

Edwards will be eligible to apply for parole after serving three and a half years behind bars, and was disqualified from driving for 10 years.

Mr Otto de Grancy said the Riverland community would continue to support Mr Passmore’s wife and three children as best they could.

“The Passmores have moved to Barmera, it was their wish to build a house, Mick and Di were planning the house just shortly before he was killed,” he said.

“The whole community of Monash and the Riverland is right behind them, it’s a really tight community up there.”