Keith Lockrey: Driver who killed Liz Albornoz ‘never wants to drive again’
A 90-year-old who crashed into a group of friends, killing a mother-of-two, has penned a letter to the woman’s widower and told a court he never wants to drive again. It comes as he appeared before court to be sentenced on Friday.
Northern District Times
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A 90-year-old widower whose car ploughed into a café killing a mother and injuring eight others says he never wants to drive again, a court has heard.
Keith Lockrey fronted Burwood Local Court on Friday accompanied by his daughter for his sentence after pleading guilty to negligent driving causing the death of Liz Albornoz.
Ms Albornoz had been sitting at an outdoor table in North Epping’s Cafe Siziac with a group of mums after dropping her kids off at school on February 28.
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Just after 10am, Mr Lockrey had been driving a silver Holden Commodore on Malton Road.
He approached the intersection at Roma Street before turning right into a disabled parking space outside North Epping Shopping Village.
Yet when his car was almost fully within the lot, he then pressed the accelerator causing the car to accelerate forward suddenly, according to police facts.
The car mounted the gutter and footpath before going over the edge of a retaining wall and onto the pedestrian walkway.
Ms Albornoz, 39, was pinned against the brick wall of the cafe with a table “pressed against her stomach,” the agreed facts state.
The mother-of-two suffered “catastrophic injuries” and went into cardiac arrest and died later in hospital.
Eight others were also injured including Joanne Halmaric, 48, who suffered serious leg injuries.
Keith Lockrey, who was uninjured, pleaded guilty to three negligent driving charges including driving causing death which carries a maximum 18 months in jail.
In court, his lawyer Stephen Mainstone said a “split second” of negligent driving resulted in the “tragic death” of a mother.
The court heard Lockrey expressed “genuine remorse” and has penned letters to each of the victims and Ms Albornoz’s husband Victor which will be sent after sentence.
Mr Mainstone revealed Lockrey does not wish to go behind the wheel again. “He has indicated his driving days are over (...) He does not want to drive anymore,” he said.
He further submitted the negligent driving “fell at the lower end” of seriousness while not “diminishing” the fact that it resulted in the death of Ms Albornoz.
A statement from a shopkeeper saying there had been four other similar incidents with other drivers before this one took place was also submitted.
His lawyer asked for a Community Corrections Order (CCO) to be considered in relation to each offence.
Police prosecutor Fiona Clarke said, “I would say Mr Lockrey is unlikely to be before the court again. It is about general deterrence to the community.”
Magistrate Susan Horan said, “It was not a straightforward sentence” and adjourned the matter.
Lockrey will face the same court on November 27 for sentence.