Cairns crime: Levi Adam Moore convicted of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm
A man who did ‘a wheelie’ going at up to 123km/h in 60km/h zone was in tears as a Cairns District Court judge outlined the consequences of his dangerous action. Find out what happened
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A man who came within a whisker of losing his life and was left with disabling injuries has been sentenced in court.
Cairns District Court heard that Levi Adam Moore, 37, was charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing grievous bodily harm or death.
The court heard Moore did a “wheelie” on his motorbike in Bunda St on October 5, 2021, going at up to 123km/h in a 60km/h zone when he collided with a car.
The driver was injured with glass in her neck that had to be surgically removed.
But Moore was thrown over the roof of the car and received such severe injuries he had to be resuscitated at the scene, adjacent to Cairns Central shopping centre.
Judge Dean Morzone, KC, noted the crash resulted in fractures to both arms, broken ribs and a punctured lung, a broken collarbone and right wrist, snapped tendons and bleeding on the brain.
Prosecutor Matt Hancock said the motorbike was in tatters and the car was significantly damaged, and Moore had a history of traffic offences.
Defence barrister Josh Trevino, KC, said Moore, who pleaded guilty, had ongoing disabilities.
“He has scarring on the brain, he has struggled emotionally and physically, his stable relationship broke down due to the consequences of his partner caring for him, and he lost his job,” Mr Trevino said.
“He’s been in a very difficult position post-accident and he’s had a difficult upbringing, he describes his father as an abusive alcoholic.”
Mr Trevino said when Moore was 12-years-old, his father won $2.8m in lotto, bought a property at Little Mulgrave, withdrew from the community and didn’t require Moore to go to school.
However, he became adept at operating heavy machinery on the property and subsequently worked in that sphere.
Mr Trevino said Moore’s father arranged for him to work on fishing trawlers when he was aged just 14-15.
“He was very close to his father and his death devastated him, his father died in his arms at the scene of the accident, he has PTSD,” Mr Trevino said.
Judge Morzone said Moore had paid a heavy price for speeding.
“Your dangerous behaviour and stupidity landed on someone else having to pay for your conduct,” Judge Morzone said.
“Your criminal history is terrible, 10 offences of speeding and others of flouting road rules.
“Your offending resulted in physical harm to another person and yourself.”
Judge Morzone said Moore was at relatively low risk of reoffending and time in prison would hinder his recovery from injuries.
“You are sitting here broken, you broke yourself,” Judge Morzone said.
He sentenced Moore to 15 months in prison, suspended from July 28, meaning he walked from court a free man on Friday.
His sentence includes an operational period of two years. Moore was also disqualified from driving for nine months.
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Originally published as Cairns crime: Levi Adam Moore convicted of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm
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