Grieving widow demands justice as husband’s killer fights deportation

The wife of a man killed by an unlicensed driver while walking the dog says she's “never backing down” as her husband's killer launches a third bid to stay in Australia.

The family of Ian Seibel who was killed in a crash, Paula Seibel who was also injured and her son Aaron Seibel. Picture: David Clark

The wife of a man who was killed by an unlicensed driver who was meant to be deported after his sentence says she is angry he is still in the country.

Paula Seibel lost her husband Ian in 2020 after the couple were hit by Manpreet Singh Brar, who was driving without a license, while they were walking their dog at Kallangur north of Brisbane.

Brar was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle, causing death or grievous bodily harm and driving without a licence.

While on bail and on a bridging visa Brar was charged with multiple driving offences until February 2023 when police revoked his bail and detained him.

Mr Brar was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, suspended after 20 months, suspended from holding a license and deportation to India.

Ms Seibel said she was upset to learn her husband’s killer was at Pinkenba in Brisbane and trying to appeal leaving the country for a third time.

L to R, Aaron Seibel, Paula Seibel, son and wife of Ian Seibel, who was killed in a crash. Photo: Steve Pohlner

“I’m angry, I’m frustrated, I am all of the gamut of emotions. I want closure. I want it finished. I want him gone,” she told The Courier-Mail.

“It’s so hard to live every day knowing that he’s able to see his family, and I’m not.”

Ms Seibel said it was difficult to move on.

“It’s very difficult. Not only do you have to grieve, you’re also fighting a really terrible system, and it’s just never over,” she said.

“You don’t get any closure. You keep getting kicked and kicked and kicked and you just have to keep getting up and fighting every day, because if I don’t fight for this I feel that they will actually just let him do whatever he wants.

“I want them to know that I have no intention of ever backing down, and so I want him to know that he picked the wrong person to kill.”

She said it just rubs salt in the wounds.

Photos of Ian Seibel his family took to court.

“This year was his fifth birthday since it happened,” she said.

“I don’t have video and the only thing I have is his voicemail message.

“So it’s very hard, you know, you don’t get to hear him laugh, get to hear his silly jokes.”

Ms Seibel said she was disappointed with the initial sentence.

“Twenty months is just a joke,” she said.

“He took 30 years, at least 30 years, from my husband, and he got 20 months, and he’s still able to see his family.

“We can’t see Ian. We can’t talk to Ian. There is no justice at all in that, and this government needs to actually consider their citizens and the rights of their citizens, not the rights of international criminals.”

Paula Seibel outside court. Picture: David Clark

Brar last year unsuccessfully appealed the cancellation of his visa to be with his two children in Australia.

He is expected to appeal it for a third time. The matter is listed for August 11.