Antoine Chidiac avoids jail sentence after fatal car crash in

A man who lost control of his car and crashed, killing his partner of six years, has avoided going into jail after he appealed his sentence.

Antoine Chidiac will serve a jail sentence in the community after his girlfriend, Rima Hanna, was killed when he lost control of their car and collided with another vehicle in Sylvania last year. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis, Inset: Supplied

A driver whose “momentary inattention” behind the wheel led to the death of his girlfriend has successfully appealed his sentence and will avoid going into prison.

Antoine Chidiac, 34, was sentenced to 12 months full-time custody with a non-parole period of eight months in Sutherland Local Court in November.

On Monday, Chidiac appealed his jail sentence in Downing Centre District Court and was instead placed on an 18-month jail term to be served in the community.

The Belmore man pleaded guilty to negligent driving occasioning death, not giving particulars to police and driving a vehicle with illicit drugs present in the blood.

Rima Hanna, 40, was killed when Chidiac lost control of his car and collided with another vehicle on the opposite side of the road in Sylvania last year.

Antoine Chidiac pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing death. Picture: Ashleigh Tullis,

During Chidiac’s sentence, the court heard from the heartbroken sister of Ms Hanna, Barbara, who said on behalf of her siblings and elderly parents that losing Rima had been very difficult because her death was “sudden and unexpected”.

She said the whole family still mourned her death, especially her elderly father, who had since struggled to find a reason to live.

“We will live with this nightmare for the rest of our lives,” Ms Hanna said. “There are no words to truly express how our family feels, but Rima was someone so caring and full of life.”

Agreed facts tendered to the court said Chidiac was driving a Toyota Corolla on the Princes Hwy at Sylvania while Ms Hanna was in the front passenger seat about 11am on March 27 last year.

Chidiac went around a sweeping right-hand bend, lost control, travelled across the median strip and collided with a female driver’s car and she did not have enough time to react.

Dashcam footage showed Chidiac had both hands on the wheel at the time of impact.

Ms Hanna died at the scene a short time after the collision.

Rima Hanna was described by her family members as “the most caring, selfless and loving person that we could’ve ever had in our lives”. Picture: Supplied

Chidiac‘s blood sample revealed he had trace amounts of THC and fentanyl in his system, but the levels were not at the point he would have been impaired while driving, the documents state.

Judge John North noted the case was “sad” and a “tragic accident”, with Chidiac already being punished through losing his partner.

He determined Chidiac had “slightly more than a momentary inattention or distraction”.

Judge North took into account that Chidiac had completed 15 sessions of psychological counselling for PTSD and depressive symptoms, adding he accepted Chidaic was deeply remorseful for the accident.

He said Chidiac likely understood the effects of the grief on Ms Hanna’s family after his father was killed in a car accident while he was in the car at six-years-old and his mother was driving.

Judge North said Chidiac’s driving and criminal record did not allow him leniency and he must acknowledge the loss of human like.

Judge North noted if Chidiac remained drug free and continued his psychological treatment then he had good prospects of rehabilitation.

Chidiac was sentenced to an 18-month intensive correction order where he must complete 150 hours of community service, be abstinent from drugs, continue his psychological treatment and will be disqualified from driving for two years and six months.