Ex Tassie cop Aaron Tasman Bonner jailed after fatal pedestrian crash
A former police officer has been jailed for causing the death of a father of three in what a judge said what “ought to have been a pleasant holiday in Tasmania instead resulted in tragedy”.
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A former police officer has been jailed for three years for causing the death of a father of three and seriously injuring his wife in what a judge said what “ought to have been a pleasant holiday in Tasmania instead resulted in tragedy”.
Justice Robert Pearce said Aaron Tasman Bonner, 41, of Launceston a police officer since 2007, would have to serve half his sentence before being eligible for parole.
“This is a tragic case from every perspective,” the judge said.
Bonner, who was responding to a call for assistance and sped through a red light, had pleaded guilty to one count of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing grievous bodily harm by dangerous driving in Launceston on January 6, 2020.
The car he was driving hit pedestrians Anthony Campbell, a mining engineer who died before he got to hospital and Bernice Campbell who were on holiday from New South Wales.
In the Supreme Court in Hobart on Friday, Justice Pearce said he had heard a “moving statement from Mrs Campbell about the profound and permanent impact, both on her and their three children, of the loss of a husband and father, and from the injuries she suffered”.
He said there had been fears she would lose her life after the accident.
“She remains seriously affected and the ongoing physical and psychological consequences of her injuries, greatly added to by the loss of her husband, are likely to be lifelong,” Justice Pearce said.
“Mrs Campbell and members of Mr Campbell’s family have travelled from interstate to be present at this sentencing hearing, an experience which is no doubt confronting and distressing for them, but which may also, hopefully, serve some therapeutic purpose,” the judge said.
“That said, no sentence of whatever length can undo or make up for the harm which has been done.”
Justice Pearce said Bonner had been “overcome by remorse” and “intensely aware” of the impacts of the accident.
“Those feelings are likely to remain with you for your life.
“That is some punishment in itself.”
Justice Pearce said that since the accident Bonner had been diagnosed with PTSD and as a former police officer imprisonment would put him at increased risk in prison and “an additional need for protection may arise”.
Bonner also was banned from driving for two years after his release from prison.
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Originally published as Ex Tassie cop Aaron Tasman Bonner jailed after fatal pedestrian crash
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