Just show remorse, begs crash victim's wife

TONY Stebbing's death in a car crash rocked his family to the core, but the prosecution of the other driver has only intensified their pain.

TONY Stebbing's death in a car crash rocked his family to the core, but the prosecution of the other driver has only intensified their pain.

Michael Ian White last month blamed Mr Stebbing for the impact, claiming he turned too slowly across a T-junction.

Yesterday Mr Stebbing's wife Christie, daughter Mandie and family attended the District Court wearing his photo around their necks.

Mrs Stebbing said White's eventual penalty did not matter as much as his attitude.

"I just want him to be sorry for the loss of a good man," she said.

"I felt like part of me died when I found out my husband was dead, and (the crash) was just out the front of our house.

"Tony's life mattered, and that's the most important thing ... he was the most worthwhile person I've ever known, and we will hold his name up in honour."

White, 26, of Stockport, was originally charged with causing Mr Stebbing's death by dangerous driving.

The offence was downgraded to the lesser offence of driving without due care.

White is now liable to pay a maximum $2500 fine and serve a licence disqualification.

In September 2010, White was travelling at between 11km/h and 13km/h over the 60km/h speed limit of a road at Blakeview when he and Mr Stebbing collided.

Last month Geraldine Davison, SC, for White, claimed Mr Stebbing had failed to give way to oncoming traffic and made the turn "at a very slow speed".

She said that meant her client's driving was not a substantial cause of the crash.

Yesterday, Judge Peter Brebner disagreed. "My current view of the inferences that can be drawn from the speed and geography (of the crash) is that White's driving was a substantial contributing factor to the impact," he said.

Ms Davison asked for a week's adjournment to file further papers with the court.

Outside court, Mrs Stebbing said her husband's example was her "strength and courage". "I wouldn't be able to stand here today if it were not for him," she said.