Luca Papotto drunk, on drugs in fatal crash

AN unlicensed driver who killed a young tourist at Huonville earlier this year was drunk and on drugs at the time of the crash, a court has heard.

AN unlicensed driver who killed a young tourist at Huonville earlier this year was drunk and on drugs at the time of the crash, the Supreme Court in Hobart has heard.

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

Alessandro Borchi, who was also an Italian national and worked with Papotto picking cherries, was fatally injured when the 1998 Subaru Outback they were travelling in struck a power pole on Main St, Huonville, on January 13. He was pronounced dead just days later in the Royal Hobart Hospital.

Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Linda Mason SC told the court Papotto lost control of the car, which fishtailed as he approached the end of a sweeping right-hand bend.

Italian backpacker Alessandro Borchi who died in a Huonville car crash.

Ms Mason said the car then crossed to the wrong side of the road, mounted a kerb and slid across some gravel before the rear-passenger side hit the pole with “considerable force”.

The court heard Mr Borchi, 21, was found on the back seat unconscious with his nose and head bleeding. Ms Mason said Mr Borchi had been wearing a seatbelt but suffered a “traumatic closed head injury”.

A victim-impact statement written by Mr Borchi’s parents for the court said travelling to Australia was a “dream come true” for their son.

“Alessandro was a great man with a great heart,” it read. “We are two parents without our only kid. Our hearts will never be healed.”

Investigators found the car was travelling at 72km/h on a wet road at the time of the crash, 12km/h over the speed limit.

Ms Mason said Papotto returned a blood-alcohol reading of 0.169 and was found to have cannabis and the hallucinogenic drug LSD in his system.

“His choice to get in a car and drive with two other persons was not a short-lived event,” Ms Mason said.

She said Papotto travelled from Lucaston to Grove and on to Huonville, at least 22km.

“The risk of an accident occurring becomes almost inevitable,” Ms Mason said.

The court heard Papotto did not remember being behind the wheel but accepted he was the driver.

Defence lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi said Papotto attributed his use of alcohol and drugs to a “naive willingness to experience new things in a new country”.

“Mr Papotto is deeply regretful of his actions on that day,” Mr Cangelosi said.

“If he had the power to change the course of that day, he would do so without hesitation. He has learned a lesson that drink-driving and driving under the influence can have the most terrible and tragic consequences imaginable.”

Mr Cangelosi said Papotto wished to return to Italy, even if it meant transferring his custodial sentence.

He has no prior convictions in Australia.

Acting Justice Brian Martin QC will hand down his sentence on Tuesday.