Buderim family calls for sentence review following son’s death

Ryan Kimball’s heartbroken family is appealing to the Queensland Attorney-General to review the sentence given to the teenager who pleaded guilty to killing their son.

The heartbroken family of a teen car crash victim has appealed to the Queensland Attorney-General to review the sentence given to the teenager who was behind the wheel of the fatal crash.

The Buderim family was left devastated following the court decision not to record convictions and give the 18-year-old an immediate conditional release.

Ninderry MP Dan Purdie, a former Sunshine Coast police officer, is also writing to Attorney-General Yvette D’Ath calling for a review and youth crime reforms.

The driver, who was 17 at the time of the crash and now 18, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, driving as a learner without supervision, driving without L plates displayed as a learner driver and using a phone while driving.

He can’t be named for legal reasons.

Ryan, 16, was killed instantly on June 9, 2022 when the car he was travelling in crashed into a power pole at between 160-180km/h on Finland Rd in Bli Bli.

Ryan Kimball's brother Tyson, his mother Annette, his father Graeme and MP Dan Purdie at the roadside memorial.

The 18-year-old driver was sentenced on April 28, 2023 to 18 months’ detention suspended, with an immediate conditional release, and was disqualified from driving for 18 months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Ryan’s father Graeme Kimball said he wanted to see accountability and changes in the youth justice system, as he called for Ms D’Ath to review the decision handed down by the courts.

“We remained silent for so long afterwards, we were told to be quiet because we didn’t want to jeopardise Ryan’s case, and we put our trust in the justice system,” he said.

“But if someone doesn’t speak up it’s going to keep happening and we don’t want another family to go through what we are going through.

“It feels like our son didn’t have a voice.”

Mr Kimball said a large number of Ryan’s friends were in the courtroom during sentencing.

“They were all teenagers and they walked away with the wrong message,” he said.

“We are bitterly disappointed that there was nothing that justified his life and the sentence that was handed down was unacceptable.”

Ryan Kimball had told his mother he loved her and would be back later before he was killed in a high speed car crash.

Ryan’s mother, Annette, said the lack of punishment of youth offenders would result in repeated incidents.

“It’s teaching his friends and other teenagers that they can go out and break into a shop or take a car out, and smash it up, or burn it and we’ll go to court and get a slap on the wrist and walk away,” she said.

“This is devastating.”

The roadside memorial to Ryan Kimball.

Mr Purdie, a former Sunshine Coast police officer, said there was issues with 17-year-olds being treated as juveniles but still being old enough to obtain a licence.

“We’ve got 17-year-olds walking out of court with a slap on the wrist when they have been overtly driving dangerously, sharing that on social media and people die,” he said.

“In the sentence that has been handed down in this case, not only does it not restore justice to the family in any way, it’s manifestly inadequate and doesn’t meet community expectations.

“Which is why I’m standing with the family and calling for an appeal.”

Ms D’Ath’s office was contacted for comment and referred the inquiry to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.

A spokesman for the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions said the Office reviewed all matters “as a matter of course to determine if an outcome should be appealed”.

“The DPP has 28 days from sentence to consider the success or otherwise of an appeal,” the spokesman said.

“As the matter is still subject to the possibility of an appeal, no further comment can be made.”