Liam Murray avoids jail for reversing into and killing Erin Bentley

A lawyer has been spared prison after hitting and killing a woman who was walking from a tram stop – and the woman’s grieving family made a powerful statement in court.

Lawyer Liam Murray was handed a three-year community correction order after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death. Picture: KCL Law

A lawyer who struck and killed a pedestrian as she crossed a busy street in Melbourne’s CBD has been spared jail after a plea from the woman’s family.

Erin Bentley, 44, was walking from a tram stop to work when she was hit by a Mazda CX-5 reversing along Flinders Street near Highlander Lane on the morning of May 25, 2022.

She suffered serious injuries and spent six weeks in hospital before she died on July 9.

Liam Murray, 36, a senior associate at KCL Law, was on Tuesday handed a three-year community correction order after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death.

Liam Murray hit Erin Bentley with his Mazda CX-5 on Flinders Street in May 2022. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Seated in the dock, Murray silently cried as Danae Bentley described how her sister’s future had been robbed by the “senseless accident”.

“This incident has highlighted to me how fragile life is and that the people I love could be taken from me without warning,” she told the County Court.

But she said she felt no ill will towards Murray, instead choosing to honour her sister’s memory with “grace and compassion”.

Murray had been reversing so he could detour via a laneway when he struck Ms Bentley at between 23km/h and 28km/h.

There were no drugs or alcohol in his system and he was not sleep-deprived.

Judge Robyn Harper said Murray’s lapse in concentration had brought “catastrophic consequences” but she noted Ms Bentley’s family did not want him jailed.

“They instead wished for you to heal from the trauma from the collision,” she said.

Murray’s lawyer Sam Norton said his client had written a letter to Ms Bentley’s family apologising for the tragedy.

He said Murray had also offered to meet with them.

Murray’s driver’s licence was cancelled and he was banned for driving for two years.
He was also ordered to complete 200 hours of unpaid community work.