Hoon driver, 15, who killed Nicole Tucker by dangerous driving will be sentenced as adult, court rules
A HOON driver, 15, who killed mother of two Nicole Tucker in a horrifying crash on Main South Rd, will be sentenced as an adult. He now faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars.
- Family pays tribute to loving, selfless mother Nicole Tucker
- Teen driver’s extensive criminal history revealed
- How Advertiser.com.au reported the terrible crash
A HOON driver, 15, who killed mother of two Nicole Tucker in a horrifying crash on Main South Rd will be sentenced as an adult, and now faces a maximum sentence of life behind bars.
On Friday, the teenager showed little reaction as Senior Youth Court Judge Penelope Eldridge granted an application by prosecutors to send his case to the District Court.
The boy, 15, admitted he was driving a stolen ute that killed Ms Tucker at Bedford Park on October 6 last year.
He pleaded guilty to causing Ms Tucker’s death by dangerous driving in just his second appearance before the court, less than a month after the incident.
His passenger, 17, has also admitted wrongdoing, and that he was the passenger in the ute that was travelling at more than 160km/h prior to crashing into Ms Tucker’s car at the intersection of Main South Rd and the Southern Expressway.
Ms Tucker — who, her family said, was selfless and “put everyone else first and herself a long way second” — was headed north on Main South Rd at the time of the crash.
The ute’s passenger is further accused of helping spark a violent two-hour stand-off with authorities at the Cavan Youth Training Centre last month.
The driver of the ute pleaded guilty in November, at which time prosecutors said they would consider seeking to have him sentenced as an adult.
Last month, they told the court his extensive criminal history warranted such a course.
Prosecutors said he had been dealt with, by the court, for 60 offences over the past four years and been sentenced to youth detention on four occasions.
They said he had been sentenced to youth detention on four occasions and was unlicensed and under the influence of cannabis at the time of the crash.
On Friday, in a brief hearing, Judge Eldridge said she had granted the prosecution’s application and remanded the teen in custody to face the District Court next month.
Although he will be sentenced as an adult, the teen’s case will still be subject to statutory law emphasising the need to rehabilitate young offenders.
