Drug and drink driver jailed for backpacker’s death

A DRUNK and drug driver who killed a young tourist when he lost control on a wet road in Huonville earlier this year has been sentenced to jail.

Italian backpacker Alessandro Borchi, 21, died in a Huonville car crash.

A DRUNK and drug driver who killed a young tourist when he lost control on a wet road in Huonville earlier this year has been sentenced to two years and nine months’ jail.

Italian national Luca Papotto, 30, on Monday pleaded guilty to one count of negligent driving causing death.

Alessandro Borchi, who worked with Papotto picking cherries, suffered a “severe traumatic closed head injury” when the 1998 Subaru Outback they were travelling in struck a power pole with “considerable force” on Main St, Huonville, on January 13.

He was pronounced dead three days later in the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Acting Justice Brian Martin QC on Tuesday told the Supreme Court in Hobart that the case was “sad and unfortunate”.

“You killed a young man who, like you, was on an adventure here in Australia,” he said.

“In the short time you knew the deceased you got on well and you found him to be a generous person.

“His life was cut short and his family are devastated.”

The court heard Papotto, who did not have an Australian licence, was driving 12km/h over the speed limit, returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.169 and was found to have cannabis and the hallucinogenic drug LSD in his system.

“When you drove on the road that night, you were in a dangerous condition and your driving was dangerous because of the significant impairment,” Acting Justice Martin said.

“In the circumstances you were travelling too fast but the primary cause is obviously your incapacity to drive under the influence of alcohol and drugs. You were incapable of exercising proper control.”

Acting Justice Martin accepted that Papotto was “deeply sorry” for his actions and was unlikely to reoffend.

His sentence was backdated to January 13. He will be eligible for parole after half of his sentence.