Adelaide lawyer Lauren Willgoose jailed for eight years for killing Anthony Walsh on Goodwood Rd while drunk

An Adelaide lawyer who fatally ran down a pedestrian while drunk – and then blamed him – has been given a huge jail term, as the wife of the man responds to the decision.

Lawyer Lauren Jean Willgoose claimed she would “do anything to take away a portion” of the pain felt by her victim’s family – anything except plead guilty and take responsibility.

Since June 2021, she has repeatedly denied fault for pedestrian Anthony Walsh’s hit-run death on Goodwood Rd, even though she had drunk more than 1L of wine before getting behind the wheel.

At both trial and after being found guilty, she insisted Mr Walsh was “substantially” to blame for his own death because he “chose” to cross the road in front of her.

That was enough, she argued, to warrant a home detention sentence – allowing her to continue caring for her son, with whom she became pregnant while being prosecuted.

On Wednesday, the District Court rejected that stance and ordered Willgoose serve eight years jail with a non-parole period of five years and eight months.

Lauren Willgoose leaves the District Court after she was found guilty of causing the death of Tony Walsh by dangerous driving. She was sentenced to eight years in jail on Wednesday. Picture: Newswire / Brenton Edwards

Christine Walsh, Tony Walsh’s wife, outside court after Willgoose was found guilty. Picture: Newswire / Brenton Edwards

Anthony Walsh, who was hit and killed by drink-driver Lauren Willgoose, on Goodwood Rd. Picture: 7 NEWS

It is one of the longest sentences imposed for causing death by dangerous driving in South Australia in the past 20 years.

Sentences for the offence tend to range around the three-and-a-half-year mark.

Outside court, Mr Walsh’s widow Christine said she was thankful the court had found her husband was not responsible for his own death.

“If he had found fault then it means that every pedestrian who walked across the road would be up for being substantially responsible for any incident that happened,” Mrs Walsh said. “I think that was the appropriate response.

“She’s about to spend a considerable time in jail. I don’t know what to make of it really, it’s just a sad situation for everyone.

“Human behaviour is human behaviour unfortunately and although I’ve said before don’t drink and drive — I don’t know how many times people have to say that. People continue to do it and it causes grief, not only to people like me, but to the people who are now going to jail because of it.

“There are no winners in this. I don’t feel glad or happy, I just have this overwhelming feeling of sadness. Anthony just walked across the road.

“She got in a car when she should not have. As a consequence, I now don’t have a husband. She has to spend time away from her child and friends and family on both sides are grieving.

Mrs Walsh said the “apology” her family received from Willgoose “was not an apology”.

“It was sorry for my loss, sorry for my pain. She’s never even looked at me.”

Lauren Willgoose leaves the District Court after she was found guilty of causing the death of Tony Walsh by dangerous driving. Picture: Newswire / Brenton Edwards

She said her family planned to go to the bar where her husband spent his last night to pay tribute to his memory.

“We’re actually going to the same wine bar tonight to complete the circle, I think that’s what he would have wanted. He loved life, he loved everything about it.”

Willgoose, 33, was found guilty of causing Mr Walsh’s death by dangerous driving, and of leaving the scene of an accident having caused his death.

Her blood alcohol level at the time of the collision, on Goodwood Rd, was 0.17.

Despite her repeated denials, Willgoose last month apologised in court, saying she was sorry for the “loss” of Mr Walsh and for “what happened” that night.

In court, Judge Nick Alexandrides refused Willgoose’s request for a home detention sentence, saying such a penalty would affect the public conscience because her offending was too serious.

Judge Alexandrides rejected Willgoose’s defence, saying Mr Walsh’s actions did not excuse nor mitigate hers.

“You failed to see him as a potential hazard and deal with that risk, due to your manner of driving and your intoxication,” he said.

“I do not consider Mr Walsh’s decision to cross (the road) when he did created a degree of risk which warrants a reduction in your criminal or moral culpability.

“You had complete control of your decision to drive while intoxicated … there was sufficient time for you to have seen him as he began to cross the road.

“Your failure to do so is not mitigated by the conduct of Mr Walsh.”

Judge Alexandrides noted Willgoose had apologised, but said it lacked acceptance of her legal responsibility and culpability for Mr Walsh’s death.

“There’s no evidence that you have accepted responsibility for it in that sense … fundamentally, there has been no acknowledgment that the loss of life was caused by your actions,” he said.

“Your personal expressions of sorrow do not accept responsibility for your actions, nor for the loss caused by those actions.

“Accordingly, I can give very limited weight to your expressions of remorse.”

As she learned her fate, she sat rocking and sobbing throughout the hearing, repeatedly holding her head in her hands.

After the court hearing, Willgoose’s parents dashed out of the building before confronting the media – her mother stood directly in front of one news camera, staring down the lens before getting in a nearby car.

Originally published as Adelaide lawyer Lauren Willgoose jailed for eight years for killing Anthony Walsh on Goodwood Rd while drunk