Norma Zaiter faces sentencing for death of Bakhos Khodeir at Harris Park

A woman’s distress over killing a man after she lost control of her SUV was heightened when she learnt he was a family member. She has been sentenced following the fatality.

When Norma Zaiter lost control of her SUV at Harris Park on February 23 last year, she soon discovered the man she struck was her distant cousin Bakhos Khodeir.

The 61-year-old regular churchgoer was walking north of the Good St Bridge at Granville on his way to Our Lady of Lebanon Co-Cathedral just after 3pm when Zaiter lost control of her Holden Captiva four-wheel drive and mounted the kerb, hitting the pedestrian.

Mr Khodier was rushed to Westmead Hospital with critical head injuries but died in hospital on March 17. It was the same day Zaiter fronted court charged with a string of offences.

Zaiter, a mother-of-three, joined mourners at his funeral.

She later pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death, with the latter charge dropped.

Norma Zaiter at a previous court hearing.

More than a year after the collision, Zaiter attended Parramatta District Court on May 25 for a sentence hearing.

The 53-year-old’s family and Mr Khodier’s family united to support each after the “one in a million’’ accident.

Crown prosecutor Craig Evans told the court the cause of the collision was unusual.

“There’s not the usual indicators of speed or evidence of falling asleep or using the phone,’’ he said.

“It does have some peculiar aspects to it.’’

Judge John Hatzistergos later told the court three deflated tyres and Zaiter’s misjudgment caused the collision.

Defence barrister Daniel Roff told the court Zaiter knew the victim and that increased her remorse over his death.

He requested an intensive corrections order, which allows the sentence to be served at home.

“It would seem there’s agreement across the bar table that the remorse is genuine … and her prospects of rehabilitation are good, if not excellent,’’ he said.

‘It’s a sad, sad story’: Bakhos Khodeir’s relatives Tony Khamis and Charbil Khoudair leave Parramatta District Court in May.

Outside court Mr Khodier’s distant relative Tony Khamis said his children were living in Lebanon and he usually kept to himself.

“He was just a nice, average guy, a churchgoer.’’

He also supported the Zaiter family, including Norma’s children and husband who attended the sentencing hearing.

“They’re all great family friends, all of them,’’ Mr Khamis said.

“We knew there was a terrible accident.

“There was no intention. And (it’s about) forgiveness. It’s a sad, sad story. There’s no winners here.’’

On June 11, Zaiter was handed a sentence for a year and 10 month intensive corrections order, which allows her to serve the sentence at home until April 2023.

She was ordered to perform 400 hours community service and was banned from driving for three years.

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