Killer driver and Italian travel blogger Gabriele Cairo’s bid for speedy case fails

An Italian travel blogger and triple killer driver was visibly shaking and weeping after a major blow during his courtroom appearance over a horror SA car smash.

An Italian travel blogger and triple killer driver’s request to be sentenced before his Australian residency runs out has been declined by a judge – who has warned he should not “assume an outcome”.

Gabriele Cairo visibly shook in the dock, and left the courtroom in tears, after his brief District Court hearing on Friday.

His counsel, Michael Woods, asked Judge Paul Muscat to hear sentencing submissions and finalise the case as soon as possible, given his client’s visa status.

“I’m heard Your Honour is going on leave, I’m wondering if you would be able to accommodate us in mid-August,” he said.

“My client is a resident of Italy and has been on bail in this state, and complying with his bail, since October of last year.

“His residency runs out at the end of August... we know it’s a lot to ask Your Honour.”

Gabriele Cairo leaves court at an earlier appearance with his wife, Elena Perrone. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

Judge Muscat said he understood the request but could not accommodate it, as the court’s caseload and rostering made it “impossible”.

“You might be assuming there will be a certain sentencing outcome,” he told Mr Woods.

“I don’t want you to assume anything.”

Cairo, 28, of La Salle in Italy, pleaded guilty to having caused the deaths of Jacqueline Clark and her parents, Cynthia and John, by dangerous driving.

He also pleaded guilty to having caused serious harm, by dangerous driving, to his new wife, Elena Perrone, in the same crash at Everard Central in November last year.

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

Previously, prosecutors alleged Cairo was behind the wheel of a van that collided with a Honda Civic at the intersection of Templeton Rd and Blyth Rd.

Crash victims Cynthia and John Clark. Picture: Facebook

Cynthia, 84, and her daughter Jacqueline, 54, died at the scene while John, 86, died subsequently in hospital.

On Friday, Mr Woods assured Judge Muscat he was “not assuming anything”, merely seeking to resolve the case promptly.

Leah O’Donnell, prosecuting, said there would be one victim impact statement in the case, to be read to the court by a friend of its author.

Judge Muscat said he could hear that statement at a short hearing in August, then full submissions in October, and remanded Cairo on continuing bail.

Outside court, Mr Woods said cases of death by dangerous driving were “tragic” because “no one wins” and all parties “need closure”.