Family of victim feel ‘humiliated’ after Allan Charles Jepson, 48, sentenced over fatal Noonamah crash

‘Our lives will never be the same’: A mother says she feels disgusted and humiliated at the lenient sentence given to the man responsible for the crash that killed her son.

Almost a year to the day after her losing a second son on the roads, Wilma Desalis received another blow – the man responsible for the death of her “loving, fun and popular” boy walked free with just a $450 fine.

“Is his life only worth that? He didn’t deserve to die like this,” the 84-year-old said, fighting back tears.

“I’m disgusted, disappointed, humiliated, embarrassed – it’s an embarrassment to have to tell people the charge was so lenient.

“My neighbour got more for a speeding ticket, it’s not much of a comparison.”

Brother Paul, mother Wilma and Noonamah crash victim Peter Desalis two weeks before Peter moved from Adelaide to Darwin in 2017. Picture: Supplied.

Peter Desalis was riding his Harley Davidson motorbike on the Stuart Hwy south of Darwin when a car pulled out in front of him at 7.43pm on June 21 last year.

The car, a Ford Fairlane making a right turn out of the Noonamah Tavern precinct, was being driven by Allan Charles Jepson, 48, who told responding officers he “never noticed the bike”.

“I thought it was clear and I’ve come across and that’s when he’s got me right in the side. I didn’t notice him because I thought his lights were actually the car’s lights behind, the car was farther back,” Jepson said according to the agreed police facts tendered in court.

Mr Desalis collided with the passenger side of the Ford at 100km/h and died at the

scene, days shy of his 55th birthday.

Jepson’s roadside drug test was positive for marijuana and he told police “this arvo I did have a little puff”.

Jepson said he “never noticed” Mr Desalis on the highway as he pulled out of the Noonamah Tavern precinct. Picture: Floss Adams

Facing the Darwin Local Court on Monday, Jepson pleaded guilty to not giving way at an intersection, drug driving, and careless driving resulting in death.

He received a $150 fine for each of the counts, totalling $450, and a year’s good behaviour bond.

Mr Desalis’ younger brother, Paul, described the sentence as “a kick in the guts”.

“I don’t think anyone would be happy with that outcome,” he said.

“We’re just functioning, Mum and I … we’re existing but our lives will never be the same.”

Peter Desalis (on the right) was the second of Wilma’s sons killed in a road crash. Photo: Supplied

The pair had experienced their share of tragedy – Peter was the second of Wilma’s sons killed in a car crash and her husband had died from bowel cancer.

Over the past year Wilma had drastically lost weight and was filled with anxiety every time Paul walked out the door of her home in Mount Pleasant, South Australia.

“It’s like a nightmare that doesn’t go away,” she said.

“I don’t think I’ll ever get over this.

“I’ll keep trying for Paul’s sake – Peter certainly wouldn’t want me like this.”

Wilma said she had not wanted Jepson to go to jail but was not prepared for such a lenient sentence being handed down.

“We did ask for him not to go to jail, we just thought because he’s a young man and he didn’t do it deliberately and he’s got a couple of young children ... money’s not the issue, I just want the man to realise what he’s done,” she said.

“My son is worth more than that amount.”

Peter Desalis (middle) loved his job at the wharves in Darwin. Photo: Supplied

After living most of his life in Mount Torrens, Mr Desalis moved north to Darwin in 2017 to work at the wharves unloading cargo ships for Qube.

A music enthusiast, a Port supporter and a revhead, he was remembered as a caring and positive person who “made friends wherever he went”.