Callum Nelsen Shannon, 21, asks court to spare him jail time after crashing car while high and killing his passenger
He took so many drugs that he not only killed his best friend in a road crash, but also has no memory of doing so – now this young driver wants a court to spare him a prison term.
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A young driver smoked so much cannabis and took so many Xanax tablets that be not only killed his best friend in a car crash but has no memory of doing so, a court has heard.
On Friday, Callum Nelsen Shannon asked the District Court to suspend his jail term, or sentence him to home detention, over the fatal September 2018 crash.
His counsel argued there were “substantial factors” warranting mercy, but Judge Joanna Fuller said Shannon’s drug use was of great concern.
“There was a bag of Xanax tablets in the car, and a small amount of cannabis as well,” she said.
“The forensic analysis says the amount of cannabis in his system, on its own, would have caused impairment – and that the amount of Xanax on its own would have caused impairment.
“I understand he has post-accident amnesia and no recollection of the incident … the Xanax wasn’t prescribed (and) he must have smoked a large amount of cannabis.”
Shannon, 21, of Glengowrie, was 19 when his car left the road at Main Rd, Cherry Gardens.
His best friend, Cael Paparella, died as a result – Shannon, who suffered a brain injury, pleaded guilty to causing that death by dangerous driving.
On Friday, he read a letter of apology to the court expressing his remorse for “robbing” Mr Paparella of a future, and his family of a life with him.
He said he was undertaking volunteer work to educate others about the dangers of drugged and drunk driving, and had apologised to the Paparella family who “embraced and accepted” it.
“I’m sorry about the tragedy caused and the horrible result of my actions, I’m sorry for causing the death of my best friend,” he said.
“Although I don’t know what caused this, I’m aware my lack of responsibility and diligence put him and myself in the place we were that night.
“I can’t be sure exactly what took us off the road that night, but everything could have been avoided had we followed safe driving procedures.”
Casey Isaacs, for Shannon, said his client’s youth, medical issues and psychological problems would see him serving “harder” time than most, and asked he be spared immediate jail.
Judge Fuller will sentence Shannon at a later date.
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