Lake Munmorah: Driver Michael Wells sentenced over fatal crash which killed Yasemin Osman

A Judge has described how a driver “abandoned responsibility in gross fashion”, when he showed off his high powered car and ploughed into a young mum, killing her instantly.

A young mum who headed up the road to buy nappies in Lake Munmorah never returned after a driver showing off his high powered car ploughed into her.

Yasemin Osman’s two children will be “deprived of the love and devotion of their mother which can never be replaced” Judge Michael King said during the sentence of the driver Michael James Patrick Wells at Sydney District Court on Friday.

Judge King sentenced Wells, 35, to five years and six months imprisonment with a non parole period of three years and six months.

Michael James Wells, 35, has been sentenced for of dangerous driving occasioning death.

“I have concluded that the offender had abandoned his responsibility in a gross fashion,” Judge King told the court.

Wells, who pleaded guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, was behind the wheel of a Subaru WRX on the night of October 16 2020 when he flicked it into “sports mode” to show off the car to his workmate and said “we’ll go fast”.

An agreed set of facts states Wells reached speeds of 138km/h in an 80km/h zone on the Pacific Highway at Lake Munmorah before ploughing into Ms Osman, 29, as she turned right into Colongra Bay Drive.

The force of the collision shunted the Doonside mum’s Toyota Landcruiser 8m off the road and into a metal power pole with such force she was killed instantly.

Another passenger was pulled from the car uninjured however bystanders could not find a pulse on Ms Osman who was pronounced dead at the scene after suffering extensive head and pelvic injuries.

Wells also pleaded guilty to causing his passenger “bodily harm from wanton driving” which was taken into account during his sentence.

Judge King said if Wells, a father of two, had been travelling at the speed limit of 80km, “there would not have been an accident”.

“In my view the actions of Ms Osman did not in any way contribute to the accident,” he said.

“It’s probable what she saw was two headlights in the distance. There would have been great difficulty in estimating the speed of the vehicle at that distance. She made an entirely reasonable decision to cross but only realised as she was crossing that the offender was proceeding at a high speed.”

Image from the crash scene in Lake Munmorah. Picture: Supplied

During Wells’s sentencing hearing, Ms Osman’s father spoke of the loss of his first born daughter at the hands of a “maniac”.

Osman Osman said his daughter died “just a few streets away” on her way home.

“Little did she know a maniac like you Michael Wells would be on the road driving nearly 60km/h over the limit,” he told Wells as he sat in court.

“How can you live with yourself? No one else but you Michael Wells took my daughter’s life. I hope the court can deliver justice for Yasemin and her two little babies.”

Judge King spoke of the two tragedies as a result of Wells’s actions.

“Those children will clearly be deprived of the love and devotion of their mother which can never be replaced no matter how much love and attention they will be provided to them in the future by those who must now take up the chores of motherhood,” he said.

Michael Wells arriving at a previous mention at Wyong Court as family place a portrait of Ms Osman outside the courthouse. Picture: Sue Graham

The young mum had two children under the age of two when she died. Picture: Sue Graham

“It’s not only tragic for Ms Osman’s family and children, it’s also tragic in relation to the offender.

“He must inevitably receive a sentence of imprisonment which will deprive his children of support while he is in custody.”

Wells gave evidence during his sentencing hearing conceding that he was showing off and said through tears “not a day goes by I don’t think about it and I’m sorry”.

Judge King said he accepted Wells, who did not have a criminal record, was remorseful however did note that he had seven speeding offences on his traffic history.

He said his risk of reoffending was low however the seriousness of the offences warranted imprisonment.

Wells will be eligible for parole in January 2026 and has been disqualified from driving for three years.