Teen driver sentenced over crash that killed Sheree Robertson, Michale Chandler and Kelsie Davies
The sister of one of three people who perished in a horror crash involving a 13-year-old boy in a stolen Mercedes has slammed his sentence, saying it provides ‘no justice’ as the Attorney-General confirmed she’s considering an appeal.
Police & Courts
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The sister of one of three people killed by a teenage boy in a stolen car at Maryborough says she has been left with no faith in the justice system after he was sentenced to six years’ detention, meaning he could be out in two years.
The crash killed Michale Chandler, 29, Kelsie Davies, 17, and Sheree Robertson, 52.
The boy, who was just 13 at the time, must serve 60 per cent of this behind bars, meaning he will be released at age 16 in late 2026 and never spend a day in adult jail.
As shattered families walked out of the Maroochydore courthouse on Thursday, Lisa Latimer, the sister of Ms Robertson who was on her way home from a nursing shift at Maryborough hospital when she was killed, said she had “no faith in the justice system”.
“He is out in two years … how much is my sister’s life, plus the other girls as well?” she said.
“It’s just not fair.
“We knew it was going to be a small sentence, but we were just hoping for more.
Noting that the boy’s mother was also in court in tears and confronted by the media pack outside and asked if she was “sorry” or had anything to say to the grieving families, Ms Latimer said “it’s not her fault, it’s his fault. She didn’t cause the accident, he did”.
Sole survivor of the crash Kaylah Behrens and Kelsie’s mother Susan Marcus were also among the large crowd in the gallery of the Maroochydore Children’s Court to hear the result.
In an exclusive message to this publication following the sentence, Ms Marcus said she prayed the boy “takes the time in jail to reform and become a better person”.
“I’m glad a conviction is going to be recorded,” she wrote.
“Nothing will bring back Kelsie, Michale or Sheree, it’s a life sentence for us.
“I hope (he) can live a life worthy of those three beautiful girls
“I will pray for his soul.”
ATTORNEY-GENERAL CONSIDERS APPEAL
Deb Frecklington, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice and Minister for Integrity, confirmed she was considering an appeal after community fury over the sentence.
“The survivor and the families of the three victims were handed a life sentence in the wake of this horrific crash.
“ The Crisafulli Government’s Making Queensland Safer Laws are my absolute priority.
“I will be considering all aspects of the sentencing and obtaining further advice about the legal options available to me,’’ Ms Frecklington said.
Earlier, dressed in a white long-sleeved shirt, the boy, who this publication previously exclusively revealed was on bail at the time of the triple fatal and had driven a stolen car at more than 200kph down the same stretch of road just three weeks beforehand, appeared via videolink.
As the crash happened last year, he had to be sentenced under existing legislation and not the LNP’s proposed Adult Time, Adult Crime laws.
His sentencing began in Hervey Bay on November 18 in front of Judge Gary Long and resumed on Thursday.
Judge Long told the court he had regard to the boy’s young age and the absence of prior criminal history.
The court heard the boy had been picked up from Bundaberg by other juveniles and the car had been driven to a Maryborough and a silver Mercedes was later stolen from a home in Dalhousie St.
The other juveniles got out of the vehicle, fearing how he was driving and for the next hour he was seen by other motorists in the Susan River area driving dangerously and well above the speed limit and overtaking vehicles.
About 10.50pm the Mercedes collided with the rear of a Holden Astra, causing it to rotate into the path of a Mazda 2 without time for the vehicle to take any evasive action.
The carnage “must have had an impact on those who had been at the scene and emergency service crews who attended,” Judge Long said.
She would be left with cognitive deficits as a result of the brain injury, the court heard.
Kelsie, a talented dancer who was passionate about helping troubled youths and Michale, a beloved mother and popular youth pastor at Reach Church who had moved from Townsville to Maryborough, had just seen a movie while Sheree had finished a shift at Maryborough hospital.
Kaylah, who was also a member of Reach Church and travelling with her two friends, suffered a brain injury which caused a lifelong cognitive defect, and required multiple operations for her broken leg which if left untreated, would have likely resulted in amputation.
The crash happened near the welcome to Maryborough sign on the Maryborough-Hervey Bay Rd and the boy’s car collided with a tree.
The court heard he complained of a sore foot but had no “observable injuries”.
‘DUMB THING TO DO’
Judge Long noted the boy had been in custody for more than 580 days and that he’d admitted to Youth Justice workers while in custody that he had been driving angrily after his friends had gotten out of the car and said it was a “dumb” thing to do.
Judge Long said no other sentence other than detention was appropriate.
He noted that the maximum sentence available for the dangerous driving causing death charge was seven years in prison.
The boy’s prejudicial background was noted by Judge Long, including exposure to domestic violence and the evidence from a doctor who examined the boy and made findings regarding a likely cognitive impairment ongoing issues with impulsivity.
Judge Long said no sentence would ever be sufficient recompense for the grave losses and injury caused by the offending.
He sentenced the boy to six years in detention for the charge of dangerous driving causing death. Convictions were recorded.
Separate periods of detention were handed down for the other offences including stealing and unlawful use of a motor vehicle, to be served concurrently.
Judge Long ordered that 60 per cent of that six-year sentence must be served in custody.
The boy will be released before Christmas, 2026.
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