Stevie-Lee Bear sentenced for drunken crash that killed a six-year-old relative
In a tragic set of circumstances a young boy was killed when a woman got behind the wheel drunk and crashed into a power pole. Stevie-Lee Bear has now been jailed but will “continue to suffer” for the rest of her life.
Newcastle
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A court has heard a Hunter woman who was drunk behind the wheel when she crashed her car, killing a six-year-old relative will “continue to suffer” for the rest of her life.
Dressed in all black at Newcastle District Court on Thursday, a tearful Stevie-Lee Bear pleaded guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, under the influence.
In giving evidence, the 30-year-old mother said she was sorry for what she had done.
She was sentenced to three years jail with a non-parole period of one year and six months.
Police facts detailed how on July 21 last year Bear had gone to the bottle shop and then went to get videos for her family, before she went to Seaham Park playground at around 4pm.
The court heard she had been drinking earlier that day, a 1.5 litre bottle of eight per cent alcohol at about 1.30pm and again at the park before getting in the car heading home to Raymond Terrace.
But when she was distracted by something in the back, Bear failed to negotiate a bend, crossed over onto the wrong side of the road, ran down an embankment and slammed into a power pole.
Police facts said witnesses heard a loud bang before they heard someone screaming for help.
Passer-bys furiously tried to save the little boy but he tragically died at the scene from significant head injuries.
“I can’t do it anymore, I have lost everything,” Bear screamed according to police facts.
“I’m in so much trouble, I’ve been drinking.”
When police arrived she said: “I’m going to go away for a while aren’t I?”
Police facts also stated in the passenger side of the vehicle, they located an empty Woodstock bourbon and cola can, empty Smirnoff vodka passionfruit and lime bottle and two four packs of Smirnoff vodkas unopened.
Later that evening she was tested and a blood alcohol reading came back at 0.153.
Bear’s barrister Terry Healy said sad was an understatement about what had occurred.
“It’s affected many people, there’s clear emotional suffering,” Mr Healy said.
“She has genuine remorse and understands that a custodial sentence is in your honours discretion.”
Crown prosecutor John Stanhope agreed it clearly had led to an amount of “emotional turmoil”.
Judge Tim Gartelmann said as expert evidence confirmed, Bear’s level of intoxication substantially impaired her ability to drive.
“Her conduct created significant danger to other road users,” he said.
“The level of intoxication indicates a high degree of moral culpability.”
Judge Gartelmann said the mother of the deceased described the impact on her and the tragedy of the loss, citing her “grief was unimaginable” and her life would never be the same again.
Bear will be eligible for release in March 2022. Her license was disqualified for three years.