Luke Hunt released from jail after serving two years for crash that killed grandfather Kenneth Lay
THE partner of model Samantha Harris, who was jailed over a crash that killed a Sydney grandfather, has been released.
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THE partner of model Samantha Harris, who was jailed over a crash that killed a Sydney grandfather, has been released from jail after serving less than two years.
Luke Hunt walked free from the St Heliers Correctional Centre in Muswellbrook, NSW, today almost exactly two years after he was jailed.
Hunt received a maximum of four years in prison and has been disqualified from driving for 6.5 years for the 2012 crash on Sydney’s northern beaches that killed “loving” grandfather Kenneth Lay.
He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death.
Harris, his model fiance, was at his side today when his jail term ended.
At his sentencing hearing in May 2014, Judge Colin Charteris said the offence was in the middle range of seriousness and described him as an “arrogant driver”.
“I must send a message to the community,” Judge Charteris said. “The loss of Mr Lay was so unnecessary.”
The court heard he was travelling at about 95km/h in a 60km/h zone and aggressively changing lanes as well as going through a red or amber light.
Ms Harris was in the car with Hunt and they were both seriously injured. Mr Lay, 78, died in hospital.
At his sentencing at the Downing Centre, Hunt told of the crash being on his mind the whole day — from the time he first woke up until the time he went to sleep.
“I’m truly so sorry, so sorry ... I’m just so sorry,” he said to Mr Lay’s family while crying.
“I have been in a dark place for a long time.”
Mr Lay’s family was “devastated” by his death.
His daughter, Christine Scott, said the “violent death” of the grandfather of 16 shattered the family.
“The loss of dad has devastated us,” Ms Scott said in a victim impact statement read to the court, reported The Daily Telegraph.
Ms Scott said her father was her mother’s carer and now the whole family divides their time in looking after her.
“She is deeply depressed, she misses him.”
andrew.koubaridis@news.com.au
Originally published as Luke Hunt released from jail after serving two years for crash that killed grandfather Kenneth Lay