Molly Cahill avoids jail over Peakhurst hit and run
A young pregnant woman has learnt her fate after appealing an 18-month jail sentence for running down a man and woman on a motorbike, leaving them gravely injured before fleeing the scene.
St George Shire Standard
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A young pregnant woman who crashed her car into a man and woman on a motorbike when she fell asleep behind the wheel has narrowly avoided a full-time jail sentence after a successful District Court appeal.
Molly Cahill, 24, was sentenced to 30 months’ jail with an 18-month non-parole period for dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm, failing to stop and assist and causing bodily harm by misconduct after the serious crash in Peakhurst on April 8 last year.
The crash, which occurred when Cahill fell asleep behind the wheel and swerved onto the wrong side of the road, left the man with a horrendous “de-gloving injury to his thigh” and fractures which required six surgeries, sutures and screws to be inserted into his leg.
The female passenger on the motorbike required skin grafts to her knee and two surgeries for a wrist fracture.
On Friday Cahill’s prison sentence was converted to an intensive corrections order on appeal in the Downing Centre District Court by Judge Dina Yehia.
“I’m satisfied she has good prospects of rehabilitation and is unlikely to reoffend,” Judge Yehia said.
“I’ve given it great consideration, there is no doubt the offences are serious.”
When the appeal began on Monday the court heard Cahill had recently fallen pregnant.
Cahill’s infant son tragically died at seven weeks of age due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome just weeks before the shocking crash, which contributed to Cahill’s fragile state of mind when she got behind the wheel.
“It’s very important that you understand this is a term of imprisonment,” Judge Yehia said to Cahill.
“It’s not a bond – it’s a term of imprisonment and if you breach it or commit any further offences, you go before the State Parole Authority and they may well revoke it and place you in custody.”
On Monday the court had heard Cahill recently started working at a local preschool and is studying an early childhood diploma through TAFE.