‘Sickened’: Fury over Lambo driver Alexander Campbell’s sentence

The mother of a teenage girl killed when a driver lost control of his $330,000 Lamborghini says the family is “appalled” by his sentence.

He deliberately turned off his stability control and enabled his car’s sports mode despite cold conditions, but the “remorseful” and “guilt-ridden” driver of a $330,000 luxury vehicle has been spared jail time over the crash that killed a 15-year-old girl and seriously injured her best friend.

Instead, Alexander Campbell, 37, will serve community service hours and adhere to an 18-month good behaviour bond after being handed a suspended jail sentence for driving without due care on the night Adelaide teen Sophia Naismith lost her life.

Campbell, who was previously found not guilty of causing Ms Naismith’s death by dangerous driving, pleaded guilty to the charge of aggravated driving without due care in February 2021.

On Thursday during sentencing in Adelaide District Court, judge Paul Muscat said the “tragic outcome” of Campbell’s driving continued to haunt him.

Alexander Campbell has been spared jail over the crash that killed Sophia Naismith. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

“Even though the court found you not guilty, people have decided for themselves that you are guilty of those charges,” Judge Muscat said.

“You have been vilified for your driving that night by members of the public, many of whom expressed their views ignorant of the narrow way the prosecution case was presented against you, the evidence or the law related to primary offences.

“All of that public attention has affected you.”

“Despite what some chose to believe, I am satisfied on the material provided to the court, your presentation during your police interview and your apology given in this court that you have a deep sense of guilt over what happened that night.”

In June 2019, Sophia Naismith from Seaview Downs and her best friend Jordyn Callea from Richmond were walking along Morphett Rd in Glengowrie when the luxury car mounted a kerb and hit the two girls before crashing into a restaurant.

Sophia was 15 when she was killed. Picture: Instagram.

Jordyn Callea, Sophia’s best friend and crash survivor. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Brenton Edwards

Sophia, aged 15 at the time, died at the scene, while Jordyn was rushed to the Flinders Medical Centre with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

In September, the court found prosecutors had failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Campbell had deliberately applied harsh acceleration to his white Lamborghini.

The maximum penalty for driving without due care is 12 months imprisonment and a minimum six-month loss of licence.

Judge Muscat on Thursday applied a 30 per cent discount to Campbell’s sentence, reducing it from seven months to four months and 27 days, due to his early guilty plea. That sentence was then suspended as long as Campbell signed an 18-month good behaviour agreement.

The court was told Campbell’s main interest was luxury cars. Picture: Supplied You Tube

Campbell was also disqualified from driving for four years and four months, but that time was backdated to include provisions of his bail agreement that prohibited him from driving.

That means Campbell will be able to hold a driver’s licence again in 12 months.

Judge Muscat said Campbell had accepted responsibility for his careless driving through his early guilty plea to the secondary charge of driving without due care.

“This was not simply a case of momentary inattention but a combination of compounding factors relating to the high powered Lamborghini,” Judge Muscat said.

Sophia Naismith’s leaving district court after the sentence was handed down. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

“With your knowledge of the risks associated with its handling, I therefore assess your moral culpability as being towards a higher end. You were driving a very powerful vehicle in sports mode. You deliberately deactivated the electronic stability control system – an important safety feature on the vehicle. You were aware the tyres needed replacing. You were aware of the handling difficulties of such a powerful vehicle especially under cold conditions.”

Judge Muscat said it was understandable no sentence would ever be adequate for the Naismith family.

“The sentence to be passed upon you is certainly not a reflection of the value of Sophia’s life, for that is immeasurable,” he said.

“This is indeed the most tragic case in so many ways.”

Supporters of the victim’s families were incredibly distressed in court, with some crying and expressing their anger as Campbell signed his good behaviour bond.

Sophia’s mother Pia Vogrin expressed the family’s disappointment at Campbell’s sentence. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

Outside court, Sophia’s mother Pia Vogrin fought back tears as she expressed her family’s disappointment in the sentence, saying the court had failed to impose a penalty that reflected the gravity of their loss.

“Our family is sickened and appalled at the sentence handed down over the death of our beloved daughter, Sophia,” Ms Vogrin said.

Sophia’s father Luke Naismith said the state government had agreed to the family’s request to protect the community through law reform.

“This case has tragically highlighted a broken system,” Mr Naismith.

“The reforms will not bring Sophia back, but hopefully they will reduce the trauma for families.”

Sophia’s father said law reforms would make drivers more accountable for their actions. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe