Matty Field and Kate Leadbetter’s family share heartbreak as Attorney-General seeks appeal advice

The families of Matty Field and Kate Leadbetter have been joined by a chorus of MPs and councillors calling for an appeal on the meagre sentence handed down to the teen driver who killed the Alexandra Hills couple and their unborn child.

The heartbroken parents of Matty Field and Kate Leadbetter say the sentence given to the teen who killed the young couple and their unborn child was “grossly inadequate” as the state’s Attorney-General revealed she’d sought legal advice over whether to lodge an appeal.

The teen, who was 17 at the time of last year’s horror Australia Day crash, was sentenced on Wednesday to 10 years jail to be released on parole after serving six years.

Because he had already spent 497 days in custody, he will only need to serve another four years and seven months before being released on parole.

Mr Field and Ms Leadbetter were killed while walking their dogs after the teen ran a red light in a stolen car, crashing into a truck and rolling the 4WD across an intersection at Alexandra Hills.

Ms Leadbetter was pregnant at the time with a baby boy they’d planned to call Miles.

Kate Leadbetter and Matt Field were killed when they were hit by a stolen 4WD while out walking there dog at Alexandra Hills.

On Thursday, in an emotional statement, the parents of the couple said they were given a life sentence the day the teen made the decision to get behind the wheel of a stolen car.

“This incident touched and affected many, not only families, friends, but first responders and many others,” they said.

“Some are still suffering, as we are. We share a thought for the witnesses, ordinary everyday people who unfortunately saw this unfold in front of them.

“We can only imagine what happened, but these people saw it and will remember it forever.”

The families said there needed to be change after the teen was sentenced to what they described as a “grossly inadequate” 10 years.

“We also recognise the Queensland justice system, and the legal challenges faced, however we believe the sentence is grossly inadequate and not within the community’s expectations,” the parents said.

“This needs to change. Unfortunately for us, this is not the end, only the next phase of our emotional journey.

“Our sentence, our ‘life’ sentence started on Australia Day last year. It will never end. Our pain will never end. They will not be forgotten and we will never get over it.”

Kate’s mother Jeannie Thorne and stepfather Tom Richter. Picture: Richard Walker

Matty’s parents Ann and Russell Field. Picture: Richard Walker

Attorney-General Shannon Fentiman on Thursday revealed she had sought advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions after being urged to lodge an appeal.

“My thoughts are with the family of Matthew Field and Kate Leadbetter – no one should have to endure the pain and loss that they have,” she said.

“Youth crime is a deeply complex problem, with no easy or quick fixes.

“We are absolutely committed to ensuring the safety of our community.”

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli called for the sentence to be appealed.

“This morning I spoke to Russell Field, Matthew’s dad, and he told me about how difficult the last 18 months had been for him and his family and indeed the family of Kate Leadbetter,” he said.

“But he said the last few days had been particularly difficult.

“He spoke to me about what he saw was a total disregard for human life and he said that he’d like to see a situation where sentences act as a deterrent for the future.

“We are demanding the state government appeal this sentence to give justice for the family and to act as a deterrent for future young offenders.

“This sentence doesn’t provide that.”

The teen who was jailed for their deaths, who cannot be identified for legal reasons.

Capalaba MP Don Brown and Redlands MP Kim Richards both called for the sentence to be appealed, saying the couple and their families deserved justice.

“This was (a) heinous act and deserves the maximum life in prison,” Mr Brown wrote.

“My community expects me to stand up (and) fight for my community, which I did after this tragedy to Fatty (Matt’s nickname), Kate and Miles by bringing in tougher youth justice laws.

“I will be doing it again to pursue the courts that this sentence is insufficient.”

Justice Martin Burns on Wednesday found that the teen’s offending had been particularly heinous, which would have allowed him to impose a sentence higher than the ordinary maximum of 10 years imprisonment for a juvenile offender.

The teen would ordinarily have to serve 70 per cent of that sentence unless the court finds there are special circumstances.

Justice Burns found there were – and instead ordered he serve 60 per cent, taking into account the defendant’s remorse, plea of guilty, and steps taken to rehabilitate.

Mr Crisafulli slammed the youth justice system, claiming it was “broken” and that there weren’t consequences for actions.

But Youth Justice Minister Leanne Linard said the government strengthened Queensland laws following the tragic incident and that there were now more serious repeat offenders in detention and for longer.