Izak Sefton-Bennett pleads guilty to killing Christella Tan in Sunshine Coast crash

The partner of a woman killed in a devastating crash at the hands of a drug-fuelled man in a stolen car has revealed the toll his wife’s tragic loss has had on his life.

The aftermath of a fatal crash caused by Izak Kane Sefton-Bennett which claimed the life of Christella Tan. Picture: Patrick Woods

A Caloundra West man must serve at least eight years in jail for killing an innocent driver during a drug fuelled crash while in possession of a loaded weapon.

Izak Kane Sefton-Bennett had an “incredibly high” reading of meth in his system the morning of September 15 when he performed a violent home invasion and later killed 52-year-old aged care worker Christella Tan in a stolen-car crash only metres from a school zone at Burnside on the Sunshine Coast.

The details of his crimes were revealed in Maroochydore District Court on Monday following pleas of guilty to 13 charges including dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while adversely affected, failing to exhibit proper respect to the deceased showing callous disregard, carrying weapon in a public place while loaded, burglary in the night while armed in company and armed robbery in company with violence.

Christella Tan was killed a horror hit and run using a stolen car at Burnside.

Crown prosecutor Amy Pattle said the devastating series of events began at a home in Landsborough in the early hours of September 15, 2023.

Ms Pattle said Sefton-Bennett and Michelle Rhiannon Laing devised a plan to steal drugs and property from a man after the 27-year-old heard a perceived insult against him.

The court heard Laing, who recently pleaded guilty to her role in the home invasion and was awaiting sentence, went to the victim’s home under the guise of buying drugs.

Her charges were burglary at night in company, robbery with violence and unlawful use of a motor vehicle in company while armed at night.

While there she enabled Sefton-Bennett to enter the home armed with a gun and baton about 2am. He attacked the victim with the baton before the pair stole drugs, property and a car.

The Crown prosecutor said Sefton-Bennett drove the pair erratically from Landsborough to Yandina, approximately 40km, before he dropped Laing off and travelled for a further 35 minutes along main roads including the Bruce Hwy about 6.45am.

She told the court the Caloundra West man, who was disqualified from driving at the time, made it to Burnside and was driving at least 82km/h on the wrong side of the car before he crashed into Ms Tan’s vehicle head on.

Sefton-Bennett was on drugs when he crashed into Ms Tan’s tar and killed her. Picture: Patrick Woods

The collision pushed her car from the road into the gutter, with there being no evidence the 27-year-old even slowed down or tried to brake.

Ms Tan tragically died at the scene due to her injuries.

Sefton-Bennett meanwhile, concerned only about himself, took the time to grab his bag which had drugs and a sawn off rifle inside and fled across school grounds.

Witnesses accosted him and told him he killed the other driver however he walked off undeterred. He dropped the loaded gun near a tree and made his way to a car where witnesses were brave enough to block his vehicle in.

Ms Pattle said police arrived at a home where the 27-year-old was arrested.

When searched he was found with 1.8g of pure meth and a pipe.

The court was told Sefton-Bennett had an “incredibly high” reading of ice in his system when he was later tested for drugs.

In heart wrenching victim impact statements to the court by Ms Tan’s widow Bernard Wee and his mother, they told of the profound sadness they felt following the aged care worker’s death.

Widower Bernard Wee (left) detailed his grief after losing his partner Ms Tan (right) in a victim impact statement read to the court on Monday.

Mr Wee said the deep pain of his wife’s loss would remain for him the rest of his life, where he felt like a “broken man”.

His statement revealed he felt he would never be the same person he once was following Ms Tan’s death and how his heart was “broken to pieces”.
“When Stella died, I completely died inside,” Ms Pattle quoted the statement in court.

Ms Tan’s mother-in-law spoke of her own pain of losing her daughter-in-law as well as the severe impact her death had on her son where she rarely sees him laugh or smile anymore.

Defence barrister Jessica Goldie said the New Zealand man’s problem stemmed from his drug use, where he would return to the mainland after working on a fishing trawler and “write himself off” on drugs.

Ms Goldie said at the height of his addiction, the father would use 3.5g of meth a day while also taking a “cocktail” of other drugs.

She told the court since being remanded in custody he was unable to attend his mother’s funeral this year in New Zealand.

The barrister claimed Sefton-Bennett was remorseful and did not have a great recollection of the crash.

Judge Glen Cash said the 27-year-old’s conduct caused the death of a “much loved” wife who was beloved by those in the community.

He said the untimely loss of Ms Tan had devastated her husband due to Sefton-Bennett’s “selfish conduct”, who the court heard was likely to be deported back to New Zealand after his sentence.

Sefton-Bennett was jailed for 10 years, and will be eligible to apply for parole after serving eight years. He was also disqualified from driving absolutely.

Only 224 days of his 591 days in jail were declared as time served due to him serving a previous sentence.