Naked driver John Ceruto to serve at least five years for killing pregnant fiancee
AN expectant father whose “incredibly dangerous” driving killed his fiancee and unborn child during a mercy dash to hospital will spend at least five years in prison.
AN expectant father whose “incredibly dangerous” driving killed his fiancee and unborn child during a mercy dash to hospital will spend at least five years in prison.
The District Court this morning jailed John James Ceruto, 31, for six years and 10 months, with a non-parole period of five years and five months.
Ceruto had previously pleaded guilty to one aggravated count of causing the death of his fiancee Lisa Smith by dangerous driving, and to driving unlicensed.
Ceruto was driving when he crashed into a Stobie pole at Woodville Park in January this year, during a hospital dash, after Ms Smith complained of severe abdominal pain.
The baby, a boy the pair had named Chase, had been due on March 10.
Ms Smith left behind two children, Hannah and Blake, who now live with their grandparents.
In sentencing today, Judge Julie McIntyre said it was unclear why Ceruto had lost control of the car.
Judge McIntyre said Ceruto had been speeding at between 115km/h and 137km/h in a 50km/h zone, while under the influence of alcohol and methamphetamine, and had fled the scene of the crash naked.
“The methamphetamine and alcohol alone would have been sufficient enough to play a significant role in the crash,” she said.
Judge McIntyre said Ceruto had been frustrated about Ms Smith’s reluctance to go to hospital.
“I accept that you were panicking ... you plainly should not have been driving,” she said.
“The sensible thing would have been to go to one of your neighbours.
“This apparently callous regard for Ms Smith does not sit well with your mercy dash to hospital.”
Judge McIntyre said Ceruto’s driving was “incredibly dangerous” by any standard and that the seriousness of the offence was too great to warrant suspending his sentence.
She disqualified Ceruto from driving for 10 years.
Outside court, Ms Smith’s mother Kerry said only “yes” when asked if she was satisfied with Ceruto’s sentence.