Teenage driver who killed Atem Kuany in crash jailed for over four years
The drunk, speeding teenager who left his dying friend after a horrific crash is behind bars, with the victim’s family saying the sentence is not enough.
Police & Courts
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A drunk teenager who killed his friend in a horror crash has been sentenced as an adult after he made a series of poor decisions.
The 17-year-old killer driver was jailed for over four years after he hid in the grass for more than an hour to avoid arrest.
During sentencing on Wednesday, the District Court heard the crash occurred at the Edinburgh RAAF military facility in September 2022 after the car was initially spotted by police on Petherton Rd at Andrews Farm.
The youth, who was driving the group home from a party, took off at speed when he saw police.
The court heard the youth was not only disqualified from driving at the time but had never held a licence.
He lost control when attempting to turn, with speeds estimated up to 136km/h prior to the crash, when the speed limit was 60km/h.
Atem – a talented sportsman and writer – was left dying on the ground when the teen, and two other passengers, who suffered non-life threatening injuries, left the scene of the crash.
The teen hid in the grass for more than an hour and half before his body heat was detected by PolAir.
The court heard he returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.116, which was likely closer to 0.175 at the time of the crash.
Victim impact statements were read to the District Court in December by prosecutor Kimberley Ballans.
The victim’s mother Daborah Beek said Atem was named after her father so he was an important legacy member to her family.
“He was a talented sportsman, a gifted writer and most importantly the centre of our family’s universe,” she said.
Atem’s father, Elijah Kuany, who read his own statement to the court said his son was due to turn 18 a month after the crash and finish Year 12 that year.
“The wound in our heart will remain forever,” he said.
The teen, who cannot legally be named, pleaded guilty to aggravated causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of causing harm by dangerous driving and leaving an accident scene after causing death.
Judge Joanne Tracey said the youth made a series of very poor decisions in the lead-up to the offending and had several opportunities to stop and face the consequences.
“In my view, the manner of your viewing can only be described as extremely dangerous to you, your passengers and to the public,” she said.
Judge Tracey said no sentence imposed would be considered adequate by Atem’s family and friends to address the immeasurable pain and loss they will always feel.
“Their lives will forever be the lesser because of Atem’s tragic and unnecessary death,” she said.
Judge Tracey sentenced the youth – who is being sentenced as an adult – to four years and three months jail, with a non-parole period of three years and one month.
The sentence was backdated to September 13, 2022
The youth was also disqualified from driving for ten years.
Outside court, Mr Kuany’s family told the media they were hoping the sentence would be more severe but it provided a little relief to the family.
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