Drink driver fined $400 for crash which costs a man his leg

A stoned and drunk driver who left a man screaming on the road after a hit and run has walked free with the judge labelling the policing involved as a ‘gross failure of duty’.

A Brisbane magistrate has blasted police for not stopping a hit-and-run driver who injured a pedestrian so badly his leg had to be cut off.

The victim was thrown on to the bonnet of Raymond Rawi Katu’s car, leaving body parts on it.

Katu fled before being arrested several hours later, Richlands Magistrates Court heard.

The court heard Katu was a passenger in a car “reeking of cannabis’’ when pulled over by police on September 20 at Hemmant.

Katu took over as driver after police left the scene and went to Viking Drive in Wacol, a well-known illegal street racing venue, about 2.20am.

But when one of his companions grabbed the steering wheel of their Volkswagen Passat he lost control and hit a Crestmead man, 23, and a 21-year-old Crestmead woman, the court heard.

Hoons

The woman suffered only minor injuries, but the man was left in a critical state in Princess Alexandra Hospital (PAH) where his left leg was amputated.

Metal rods were inserted into his badly injured right leg and he also suffered shoulder and facial fractures.

The court heard Katu fled but was arrested and taken to PAH for a blood-alcohol test, where he abused staff.

“It’s had a catastrophic effect on someone who, apart from hanging around a hooning area, was doing nothing wrong,’’ Magistrate Stuart Shearer said.

“Body parts were on his (Katu’s) windscreen. He abused hospital staff and refused to give blood specimens.

“If the police had done what they should have done it would have saved a bloke his leg and a month in hospital.’’

“They (the car’s occupants) should have all been drug tested.

“That stupidity (not drug testing) allowed him (Katu) to continue driving in a grossly intoxicated state.

“When the car was pulled over at Hemmant it was stinking of cannabis but he (Katu) was not charged.

“This has to be one of the grossest failures of duty I’ve ever heard of.’’

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Katu’s lawyer, Michael Townsend, said his client was very remorseful and upset by the incident.

He had pleaded guilty and his partner was expecting a baby later this year.

Mr Shearer told Katu it was lucky he was not charged with the more serious offence of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm.

Instead, he fined Katu $400 for running a red light and disqualified him from driving for a total of four years for a range of offences including failing to provide a specimen, failing to remain at the scene and render assistance, and driving while under the influence.

Mr Shearer also imposed a nine-month intensive correction order and recorded convictions for each charge.