Alessandro Greco: Daniel Walsh fatal Eastgardens crash driver sentenced

The loved ones of a navy sailor who was killed in a horror crash in Sydney’s southeast have shared the impact the crash has had on their family, as the driver was spared jail time.

The brave partner of a navy sailor killed in a horror crash in Sydney’s southeast has told a court she forgives the young driver who negligently crashed into the love of her life.

Alessandro Greco, 23, was spared a jail term on Thursday for a fatal crash which killed navy sailor Daniel Walsh on May 8 last year at Eastgardens.

Greco was driving a Mitsubishi SUV when he illegally turned across the path of Walsh who was riding a scooter.

Alessandro Greco was sentenced on Thursday. Picture: Facebook

Walsh, 29, was on his way home that afternoon when he was knocked from the scooter and he died in hospital from his injuries.

The tragic crash happened at a busy intersection on Bunnerong Rd close to Westfield Eastgardens.

Walsh was just days away from being deployed on the HMAS Canberra in the position of leading seaman cook, having served a decade with the Royal Australian Navy.

Greco, who moved to Australia from Italy when he was 18 and was studying at Sydney’s Academy of Film, Theatre and Television, wept as victim impact statements were read out in Downing Centre Local Court on Thursday during his sentencing.

Alessandro Greco (left) outside court earlier this year.

“I forgive you for taking the life of the man I loved and still love and I hope that you will be the type of person that Daniel was,” Mr Walsh’s partner Karliagh McQuade-Walls wrote, in a heartbreaking victim impact statement.

Just days after the crash, Ms McQuade-Walls found an engagement ring which Mr Walsh had hidden in their home.

She said Mr Walsh was a man who was always willing to help others and she implored Greco to do the same.

“You have been given the chance to keep living. Go on and marry and have children and show love to others.”

Karliagh McQuade-Walls and Daniel Walsh. Picture: Facebook

Greco was supported by a group of family and friends as he was sentenced for negligent driving occasioning death and drive with illicit drug present in oral fluid, which he previously pleaded guilty to.

The court heard the drug charge related to Greco smoking a cannabis cigarette the night before the deadly collision.

However, the court heard a medical professional was of the opinion the traces of cannabis found in his system would not have impacted his driving at the time of the crash.

Magistrate Michael Crompton sentenced Greco to a prison sentence of 15 months to be served by way of intensive correction in the community – meaning he narrowly avoided a custodial sentence.

The crash site at Eastgardens. Image: 7 News

He was also disqualified from driving for three years.

Magistrate Crompton stated there was no penalty he could impose that could take away the extent of loss the family of Mr Walsh had suffered.

Mr Walsh’s father also served in the Royal Australian Navy and wrote a victim impact statement which was read out in court.

“No parent should have to bury his own son,” he wrote.

“What I cannot get over is (Greco) can walk around free and enjoy the freedom which (my son) can no longer do.

“He should never be able to get behind the wheel of a car again.”