Manpreet Singh Brar jailed for five years after horror crash at Kallangur

A repeat unlicensed driver who ran a red light and mowed down a couple as they walked their dog, killing one of them, will be released in less than two years.

A repeat unlicensed driver who ran a red light and mowed down a couple as they walked their dog, killing one person and gravely injuring another, will walk free in 20 months.

Horrifying footage of the moment Manpreet Singh Brar mowed down Ian and Paula Seibel at Kallangur, north of Brisbane, in November 2020 was played in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Thursday.

Brar was speeding at about 85km/h when he ran the red light on Anzac Avenue and ploughed into another car before slamming into the couple who were walking their dog.

Mr Seibel died in hospital five days later while his wife suffered serious injuries and had to undergo lifesaving surgery.

Ian and Paula Seibel. Photo supplied for Redcliffe Herald

Brar on Thursday pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death and grievous bodily harm and an offence of driving without a licence.

He was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment, suspended after he has served 20 months.

He was also suspended absolutely from holding a licence.

Outside court, Ian’s son Aaron Seibel said he was devastated by the sentence handed to Brar.

“Thirty years off a man’s life is worth 20 months,” he said.

“I can’t put into words how disappointed I am.”

Mr Seibel said the family was struggling to cope with the loss of the “loving father and loveable larrikin who loved life”.

“You wake up every morning and you think I’ll go talk to dad about something and then you remember he’s not there anymore,” he said.

You can’t describe just how painful it is to have your mentor and the person you go to advice for taken away…”.

Ian Seibel’s wife Paula, who was also injured in the crash. Picture David Clark

In a victim impact statement tendered to the court, Mrs Siebel said her husband was funny and intelligent and was always ready with a “dad joke”.

She said Mr Siebel was a devoted family man who loved sports, reading and dreamt of travelling Australia.

“ … I am beyond angry that I have not had the opportunity to spend the rest of my life with this kind, loving gentle giant,” she said.

“Ian was not just my husband, he was my best friend, confidant, patience and just generally the best part of our relationship.

“He really was my better half and I feel like I am less than a whole person now that I don’t have him by my side to share my life with.”

Mrs Siebel said the couple had started walking regularly for their health and she struggled to comprehend how something they had done to stay healthy had ended in Ian’s death.

“I see it over and over in my head and I doubt that it will never leave me,” she said of the crash.

Manpreet Singh Brar leaving court after an earlier appearance in relation to the incident that killed Ian and Paula Seibel. File picture: Steve Pohlner

Crown Prosecutor Chris Cook said Brar had a serious traffic history which included five prior speeding convictions, an unlicensed driving offence and nine SPER suspensions.

Mr Cook said shortly before 8am on November 1, 2020, at Kallangur, Mr and Mrs Seibel had been walking their dog when they began to cross the road on a green walk signal at the corner of Anzac Ave and Brays Rd.

They only took a few steps onto the road before the mowed down by Brar who sped through a red light while driving unlicensed and slammed into another car before crashing into the couple.

The court heard Brar had cocaine in his system at the time of the crash but the prosecution accepted he was not under the influence of drugs at the time of the incident.

“He never has held a licence in his name of Manpreet Singh and the fact he was unlicensed at the time of these offences is an aggravating feature,” Mr Cook said.

“In my submission the court would question his remorse given he’s reverted to driving again after causing such devastation in November 2020.”

Mr Cook said Mr Seibel was a much loved father, brother, husband and friend and Brar was responsible for his “untimely and unnecessary death”.

Defence barrister Gavin Webber said his client, 33, grew up in India and moved to Australia in 2009.

He said Brar was married with two children, including a daughter who was born last week and whom he has never met.

He has been in custody since February 2022 after his bail was revoked for unlicensed driving.

Mr Webber said Brar, who is not an Australian citizen, would be deported to India after he had served time in prison.

Judge Katherine McGinnes said victim impact statements tendered to the court displayed the “enduring devastation and pain” caused by the loss of Mr Seibel to his friends and family.

“The driving was reckless going through a red light and I also have regard to your subsequent driving in breach of your bail conditions…,” she said.