Teenage thug avoids detention for role in hit-run which killed newlyweds
A TEEN thug involved in a deadly hit-run which killed a newlywed couple has avoided detention despite repeatedly thumbing her nose at the law.
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A TEEN thug involved in a deadly hit-run which killed a newlywed couple has avoided detention despite repeatedly thumbing her nose at the law.
The 16-year-old girl walked free from a Children’s Court yesterday on a 12-month community-based order over the horror crash which claimed the lives of Matt Goland and Bita Zaeim on April 21.
Judge Amanda Chambers told the wayward youth it was her “last chance” to be spared being locked up.
TEEN GIRL BOASTED OF RIDING IN STOLEN SUV
The Herald Sun can reveal the teen’s reckless grand theft auto life before the double fatal crash, and how she continued to commit crimes afterwards.
Police had linked her to the theft of a car in Malvern East in the early hours of February 19 and a crash on March 23 while joy-riding in another stolen vehicle.
In the latter, when police attempted to arrest the fleeing teen, she spat in the officer’s face and scratched him.
Then just 15, she was released on bail, only to weeks later take a joy ride in a stolen Lexus with driver Eric Victorsen, 19, ploughing into Mr Goland and Ms Zaeim’s car in Wantirna South about 1am.
She had boasted about the theft of the luxury car online just hours before the crash.
The red traffic signal had been on for 1 minute and 8 seconds when they sped through at 114km/h.
Mr Goland, in the passenger seat, was killed instantly. Ms Zaeim, who was driving, was rushed to hospital but later died.
Witnesses heard Victorsen telling the teen “let’s go, let’s go, let’s go” as they ran from the wreckage.
The pair were arrested the following day, with the teen denying any involvement in the crash, telling investigators she was “at home in bed”.
After being refused bail in the Children’s Court on June 12, she successfully tried again in the Supreme Court on July 6, only to go on and reoffend.
While high on GHB, the girl stole a laptop from the boot of a parked car in Box Hill and later attacked a man withdrawing cash at an ATM in the nearby mall.
She has been in custody since July 30.
Judge Chambers said she was concerned by the girl’s “escalation in pattern of offending behaviour” and acknowledged her remorse was “not immediate”.
But she had to take into account the teen’s guilty plea and young age when imposing the Youth Attendance Order, she said.
“This is an intensive order … it will require you to give back to the community,” Judge Chambers said.
The court heard of the girl’s troubled upbringing by drug-addicted parents, and how she had been brought to the attention of child protection 13 times since 2004.
The teen had also struggled with her own drug addictions since she was 12.
“This is the most tragic mix of events,” Judge Chambers said.
Under the Youth Attendance Order, she will have to work closely with youth justice and undergo drug rehabilitation.
Victorsen, 19, has pleaded guilty to two counts of culpable driving and will be sentenced next month.