Peter Lynch sentenced for high-speed crash that killed Ngukurr mum

A grieving family have revealed their suffering as the man who killed a much loved Territory mother was sentenced for manslaughter.

The scene of the crash that killed young mother DT. Picture Glenn Campbell

A 36-year-old mother in the prime of her life was “internally decapitated” during a high-speed police pursuit through Darwin.

The young driver behind the crash, Peter Lynch, will spend up to eight years behind bars after pleading guilty to her manslaughter, dangerous driving and recklessly endangering life.

The 22-year-old was sentenced in the Supreme Court in Darwin on Tuesday, 17 months after the Alawa fatal crash.

Family members of the deceased woman, known for cultural reasons as DT, watched via a video link to Ngukurr.

Margaret Thompson said her sleep was haunted by her sister’s memory, while her brother Matthew Thompson said the sight of her children still reduced him to tears.

“She’s still in my head and my heart,” Margaret wrote in her victim impact statement.

“I still cry. I’ve still got that deep suffering.

“I can’t get her out of my mind.”

DT’s auntie, Faith Thompson, said two weeks after identifying her niece: “all I could see was her on the (morgue) table”.

Police investigate the scene of the horror crash on Trower Rd. Picture Glenn Campbell

The court heard the unlicensed Lynch was driving his brother’s car down Smith St, with three others in the passenger seats, when police ordered him to stop on May 16, 2021.

Justice Stephen Southwood said Lynch pulled over to get the “jump” on officers, allowing them to approach the car before speeding off.

“(You were) motivated by a desire to evade police and escape arrest,” he told Lynch.

Officers activated their lights and sirens, but did not pursue the erratic driver as he drove the wrong way down city streets, narrowly missed other cars, and sped through red lights and stop signs.

Justice Southwood said a “convoy” of police cars followed Lynch as he reached Alawa.

The 22-year-old driver launched the car at 160km/h through a red light into Trower Rd-Lakeside Dr intersection, smashing into other vehicles.

“It caused the vehicle to roll and pitch several times before coming to rest,” Justice Southwood said.

“(DT) suffered a very violent death”, Justice Southwood said.

“It must have been terrifying,” he said.

Justice Southwood said reports from psychologist Chloe Oliver and Daniel Sullivan had diagnosed Lynch with complex trauma born from early interactions with police and the justice system.

A 36-year-old woman died in the crash. Picture Glenn Campbell

The court heard the 22-year-old’s instinct to flee was potentially “a stress based response from seeing the lights of police”.

“I got flashbacks that they were going to get me and hurt me.” Lynch reportedly told Ms Oliver.

But Justice Southwood dismissed both expert reports, saying their conclusions were based on an “unreliable historian”.

“Over time the offender has learnt what to say to maximise mitigation...I do not accept his evidence that he has been assaulted by police,” he said

Justice Southwood sentenced Lynch to eight years in prison, with a four year non-parole period.