Benjamin Christopher Koosmen, 34, sentenced for manslaughter after killing Christian Langham in police chase crash

This man was high on meth, cocaine and alcohol when he stole a car from his parents and crashed during a police chase – snatching away the life of a much-loved Newcastle motorbike restorer.

Ben Koosmen, 34, has been locked up. Picture: Facebook.

A driver who killed a talented Newcastle motorcycle restorer in a crash after stealing his parents’ car and fleeing police through red lights high on drugs and alcohol has been jailed.

It was heard in Newcastle District Court on Friday – during Benjamin Christopher Koosmen’s sentencing for manslaughter and a raft of other charges – the T-bone collision which killed Christian Langham, 49, at Fennell Bay was akin to an explosion.

Christian Langham. Picture: Facebook.

The “frequent high dose (drug) user”, 34, was under the influence when he stole the ute -despite his parents’ attempts to reach in and take the keys from him as he drove off, Judge Robert Sutherland said.

They alerted police, who pursued Koosmen as he drove towards Fennel Bay in the Lake Macquarie area on December 1, 2022.

Main Rd, Fennell Bay – where the fatal crash occurred.

The chase lasted more than an hour and the former concreter ran several red lights, crossed to the wrong side of the road and ignored his mum’s phone call “remonstrations”.

Mr Langham was flung into the air where he collided with a pole after his motorbike was struck.

He suffered fatal head injuries and trauma including an amputated foot, the court heard.

A witness in a car stopped nearby described the impact as an explosion, with vehicle parts showering down on his vehicle.

Koosmen ran from the scene along Macquarie Rd and into a villa, where he assaulted a man.

He then bolted into an adjoining villa and ran into a woman, who later described Koosmen as “under the influence of something” with his “eyes wide open”.

Koosmen made his way to a third home and went through rooms, telling the occupant “there are people chasing me”.

He stole the keys to a Toyota Prado and took off in the car.

Christian Langham. Picture: Facebook.

Koosmen then drove back through the intersection where the fatal crash took place and police arrested him soon after.

His blood alcohol level would have been just over the legal limit for driving, an expert report said, however a combination of cocaine, methamphetamines and alcohol created a “toxic by-product” in the system of the “frequent high-dose user”.

Police who arrested Koosmen described him as confused, disoriented and unable to respond to or recall his name.

Koosmen was struggling to breath and started hyperventilating when placed in a police van.

He was sentenced to 15 years in prison, backdated to December 1, 2022, with a non-parole period of 10 years.

Koosmen will be eligible for parole on November 30, 2032.

Got a news tip? Email: [e-mail]