Italian blogger Gabriele Cairo learns fate over triple fatal crash at Everard Central

Honeymooning international travel blogger Gabriele Cairo has been sentenced for killing three people in a horror car crash.

Honeymooning international travel blogger Gabriele Cairo has been spared a prison cell for killing three people in a car crash due, in part, to his “exceptional decency” as a human being.

On Friday, Cairo put his hands to his face and wept as the District Court suspended his 3 1/2-year prison term for causing death by dangerous driving.

Judge Paul Muscat said Cairo did not have to immediately serve that penalty, nor a 21-month non-parole period, but would be disqualified from driving for 15 years.

“I am satisfied, based on all combination of the moral culpability involved in the incident of dangerous driving itself and your character and personal circumstances that good reason exists to suspend the sentence,” he said.

“It’s clear that you are a man of exceptional character and quality … your decency as a human being cannot be challenged.

“You have never broken the law before.”

Cairo’s tourist visa, which had been extended pending the completion of his case, will now expire.

Outside court his wife Elena Perrone, who was also injured in the crash, said the couple were relieved the matter had concluded.

“We’re just grateful this is all over and we’re glad we get to go home as soon as possible,” she said.

“I’ve said to them (the Clarks) what I needed to, we talked and they understood, they forgave us.”

Gabriele Cairo leaves court after an earlier appearance. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

Elena Perrone and Gabriele Cairo before the crash. Picture: laprimalinea.it

Cairo, 28, of La Salle in Italy, pleaded guilty to having caused the deaths of Jacqueline, Cynthia and John Clark, and serious harm to Cairo’s wife, Elena Perrone, at Everard Central in November last year.

The couple, who are part-time travel bloggers, were honeymooning at the time.

In October, the court heard Cairo had been forgiven by the majority of the Clark family, who opted not to make victim impact statements and said he should not go to jail.

In sentencing on Friday, Judge Muscat said Cairo’s dangerous act was his failure to give way at the intersection, and driving through it at 82km/h, without seeing the Clarks.

He noted signage around the intersection had been altered and upgraded for better understanding and visibility since the crash.

Judge Muscat said Cairo could have sought the charge, and argued he was guilty of the lesser offence of driving without due care, but instead showed empathy for the Clarks and accepted responsibility.

Cairo, he said, was an “experienced motorist” who had “driven all around the world” in cities big and small “without incident”.

“You have never been involved in an accident before … this is one of those unfortunate reminders that even careful drivers can lose concentration, leading to catastrophic consequences,” he said.

Judge Muscat said sentences for causing death by dangerous driving often upset victims’ families and the public, and resulted in criticism of the courts.

He said that criticism was understandable but did not change the courts’ responsibility to sentence in line with legislation, past cases and the comparative moral culpability of individual offenders.

Cairo, he said, was less morally culpable than offenders who drove intoxicated, at high speed, with wilful recklessness or while distracted by their phones.

The “real difficulty” in sentencing, he said, was that three people died and one person was injured due to Cairo’s negligence.

“The Clarks were good people … their family recognises that this tragedy that has affected their lives was not something intended by you.

“Your wife is your biggest supporter … she hopes that, one day, you can forgive yourself … she is a good person.

The crash occurred one month after Elena Perrone and Gabriele Cairo were married. Picture: YouTube

“You are a good person, as I’ve already mentioned … I accept you are a kind, compassionate, thoughtful, hardworking young man who feels sadness and remorse for what happened.

“It’s fair to say you are a shattered young man … you find it hard to forgive yourself, even though the family of those you killed have forgiven you.

“This is a true tragedy for all involved.”

Outside court, Clark family friend Jon Reinke said he agreed with Judge Muscat’s sentence.

“I think he’s made the right decision … there’s no point sending someone like Gabrielle to jail, there’s no rhyme nor reasoning for that,” he said.

“I wish them all the best on their return to Italy, and we’ve all got to move forward – that’s about all we can do, nobody can do anything about it now.

“Gabriele is a shattered man, and I feel sorry for him and his wife … there’s no point in having a vendetta, anger can consume you, you’ve just got to get on with things.

Cairo’s lawyer, Michael Woods, said his client’s case was “unusual” compared with other driving matters.

“These things are never easy for anybody … Gabriele and his wife will never forget the Clark family,” he said.

“I must say it’s refreshing for a change to see those people in that family show great empathy … we’re very grateful to the judge for allowing him to have a suspended sentence.

“It’s certainly not common, it will never be common, but I think it's the right decision … they now get to go home.”