Speeding killer driver Bhupinder Singh jailed for five years for killing mum Christine Sandford

A judge has come down hard on a man who borrowed his friend’s V8 muscle car and drove it 100km/h over the speed limit before crashing into and killing a beloved mother.

The man who borrowed his friend’s V8 Ford Mustang and drove it 100km/h over the speed limit before crashing into and killing a beloved mother is suffering in custody because of his religion, a court has heard.

But a judge has ruled that’s no reason for him to be allowed to serve his prison sentence from home.

In March 2023, Bhupinder Singh was speeding down North East Rd, treating it “like a racetrack”, when the Mustang he was in collided with Christine Sandford as she left a petrol station at Windsor Gardens.

The impact killed Christine instantly, leaving her heartbroken family devastated, but a judge said her death was “avoidable”.

In sentencing in the District Court on Friday morning, Judge Paul Muscat said Singh, 24, had left his victim with no chance of survival when he chose to accelerate to speeds of up to 160km/h in the seconds before he hit her.

“The impact of the collision with Christine’s car was devastating. Her car was forced 31m from the point of impact before coming to rest,” he said.

Christine Sandford, 40, was killed leaving a service station on North East Rd. Picture: Facebook

Bhupinder Singh confessed to killing her by dangerous driving. Image/Russell Millard Photography

“Evidence reveals that if you had been travelling at the speed limit five seconds before seeing her car, the collision would not have occurred.

“It occurred because of the astonishingly dangerous speed at which you were driving at.”

The court heard Singh was speeding that night because he was in a hurry to meet friends at the Fringe Festival – but it also heard he had been flashing his headlights at traffic on the way, signalling for them to move.

“Speed kills. Sadly that is precisely what happened here. You deliberately drove at dangerous speeds along a busy suburban road at night. Christine Sandford had no realistic chance of surviving it.”

Judge Muscat said he had heard evidence that Singh had been suffering in custody because of his Sikh religion, including having limited access to vegetarian meals, no hair dryers and has lost 9kg since May.

However, he said that was not reason enough for him to serve his sentence in the comfort of his own home.

Since the crash in March 2023, Singh had continually denied causing the death of the beloved mother, aunt, daughter and friend – only in April did the 24-year-old change his plea and confess to killing her by dangerous driving.

Singh’s lawyer Paul D’Angelo previously told the court that his client may have been in shock after losing his turban in the crash.

“My client’s turban had flown off his head,” he said.

Bhupinder Singh’s supporters were in court for the sentencing. Picture: Brett Hartwig

“He was in a state of shock, as a Sikh, where it’s almost like being naked in public, that exacerbated the situation.”

The prosecutor had also told the court it was “clearly the Crown’s case that” Singh had made no effort to render assistance to Ms Sandford at the scene.

However, Judge Muscat said Singh had expressed concern for the victim, telling the first person on scene to call emergency services.

He sentenced Singh to five years, two months and 21 days in custody, with a non parole period of four years, two months and five days.

His licence was also disqualified for 15 years.

Originally published as Speeding killer driver Bhupinder Singh jailed for five years for killing mum Christine Sandford