Kate Leadbetter, Matthew Field deaths: Killer teen’s sentence won’t be increased

The parents of a man killed alongside his fiance and their unborn child by a teen in a stolen car have warned more innocent people will die if the government doesn’t urgently intervene in the state’s youth crime crisis. It comes after an appeal to increase the teen’s sentence was knocked back.

Russell and Ann Field have warned more innocent people will die if the government doesn’t urgently intervene in the state’s youth crime crisis.

The couple lost their son Matthew Field and his pregnant fiance Kate Leadbetter when they were struck and killed by a drunk and high juvenile in a stolen car on Australia Day 2021.

The Court of Appeal on Tuesday ruled that the 10-year sentence given to the teenage driver was appropriate, dismissing an appeal brought by the Attorney-General seeking it be increased.

Outside court, Mrs Field said while the decision was disappointing, they understood the judges were bound by the legislation.

“It’s what the laws are at the moment and the laws need to change,” she said.

“If the premier thinks these laws are adequate, I think people need to stand up and do something about it.”

Matthew Field and Kate Leadbetter were killed by a teen driving a stolen car on Australia Day 2021.

The couple said they were devastated to learn of the triple fatality allegedly caused by a 13-year-old boy in a stolen car at Maryborough on Sunday.

“It is tragic this has happened again,” Mr Field said.

“The Premier and this state have more blood on their hands because nothing was done earlier.”

Mr Field said he supported the imposition of mandatory minimum sentences to ensure juvenile offenders knew the penalty for their crime before they had committed it.

“I stand here today and I guarantee you another accident like this will happen again, again and again,” he said.

“What’s got to happen for them to change something and get these kids understanding what they can and can’t do?

“How many more people have to die, innocent people?”

Their comments came as they left the Court of Appeal after it dismissed two opposing appeals against the sentence handed to the teenager who killed Kate, Matt and their unborn son Miles.

The Attorney-General appealed the 10-year sentence, arguing it was inadequate but lawyers for the teen argued it was excessive.

Ann and Russell Field, parents of Matthew Field at the scene of the tragedy. Pics Tara Croser.

“The careful and comprehensive sentencing remarks reveal that the sentencing judge was fully cognisant of the seriousness of the respondent’s offending and sentenced the respondent for the manslaughter offences by reference to the maximum of detention for life,” the appeal judges wrote.

“The Attorney[-General] has failed to show that this is an exceptional case which justifies a departure on appeal from the submissions made by the prosecutor before the sentencing judge … or that the sentence imposed on the respondent was “unreasonable and plainly unjust”.”

The teen will be released back into the community after he has served six years in prison on Australia Day 2027 – the six-year anniversary of the day he killed Kate, Matt and Miles.

The now 19-year-old was sentenced last year to 10 years imprisonment with parole release after serving six for the manslaughter of Mr Field and his pregnant partner Ms Leadbetter.