Wife and son face deportation following tragic death of father
Colin Waters was tragically killed in a Taylors Lakes hit-run this year. But while his wife and son are fighting to remain in Australia, the beloved dad’s refugee killer is likely to stay in the country after serving his ten-month sentence.
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The wife and son of a Taylors Lakes man who was killed earlier this year are facing deportation, while his refugee killer who fled the scene will only face 10 months’ jail and will likely stay in Australia.
Essex-born Colin Waters, 49, was cycling to work in July when he was struck and killed by an apprentice plumber who nodded off at the wheel and fled the scene, leaving him for dead.
His wife Paula and 17-year-old son Kyle both have residency in Australia on his now-expired working visa, and are unsure of their future despite lodging a desperate plea to the Immigration department.
Iranian refugee Mehdi Sameri was sentenced in the County Court on Thursday to 10 months’ jail in a youth facility.
“I was devastated, disgusted, appalled, I think it’s not a lot of time for a loss of someone’s life,” wife Paula Waters told the Herald Sun.
“We’ll be spending our first Christmas without Colin, it will be quite painful. I’m deeply hurt.
“Our son Kyle is going into Year 12 next year, it’s such an important year, for us to be deported, his whole education is up in the air.
“I left the UK to come and live here, the idea of having to go back is heartbreaking.
“We are in limbo.”
The prosecution has 28 days to lodge an appeal for Sameri’s sentence.
“The sentence didn’t fit the crime,” brother Stevan Waters said.
“We want him to spend time in custody to pay for the crime that ultimately cost my brother — a completely innocent man — his life.”
Brother Stevan said the family also needed “certainty” about their status living in Australia.
“We want direction that they will be able to fufil Colin’s dream of living in Australia,” he said.
“Colin was passionate about becoming an Australian citizen and we would like that for the family.”
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Sameri fled persecution in Iran in 2014 and sought asylum in Australia after coming by boat via Indonesia.
Because he will serve less than 12 months in prison, he will not be returned to Iran at the end of his sentence.
On Thursday, Sameri cried as he was sentenced after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death and failing to stop.
Just eight days before the fatal crash, Sameri received notification he would become an Australian citizen.
A spokesperson from the Department of Home Affairs said the department expressed its condolences to the family.
“The department cannot comment on the specific circumstances of individual cases, however we will engage with the family to resolve their visa status,” a spokesperson said.