Man jailed for crash which killed mother of his newborn baby

The lawyer for a man who killed the mother of his newborn baby in a car crash has described it as a “tragedy of Shakespearean proportions”.

A driver who was speeding with bald tyres on a wet road when he crashed and killed the mother of his newborn son has been jailed, with a Perth lawyer describing the incident as a “tragedy of Shakespearean proportions”.

Grantley Dean Penny, 31, was travelling more than 40km/h over the speed limit on Welshpool Rd East in Lesmurdie on September 1 last year when he lost control, became airborne after hitting a concrete median strip and hit a wooden lamp post.

Darrylleen Koolmatrie, 23, who had given birth to their son just three weeks earlier, died in the crash.

The West Australian District Court was told Penny had prescription medication and cannabis in his system from the night before.

His driver’s licence had also been expired for more than four years.

“I remember coming round the corner and it just slid out, just slid out, you know? The tyres were bald and I couldn’t bring it back,” Penny told police after the crash.

Darrylleen Koolmatrie, 23, died in the crash. Picture: Facebook

Defence counsel Patti Chong described the crash as a “tragedy of Shakespearean proportions”.

“The offender did not just kill any innocent bystander or victim, he killed the love of his life, the mother of his three-month-old son,” she said.

“It was reckless of him to drive when his motor driver’s licence was suspended. It was reckless of him to get into a car that was less than roadworthy, with the tyres below the legal tread limit.

“It was reckless of him to be travelling at the speed which he did, down a steep hill in wet weather conditions. It was a tragedy just waiting to happen and it did happen.”

Judge Charlotte Wallace accepted Penny only realised the tyres were bald when he tried to control the car.

“Your driving had devastating consequences. You took a human life,” she said.

“I accept that it was never your intention, of course, to kill, or even harm your partner by driving in the manner in which you did.

“However, this is inevitably the case when someone is convicted of this kind of offence.”

Grantley Dean Penny was travelling more than 40km/h over the speed limit. Picture: Facebook

Referring to the victim impact statements, the judge noted the woman’s grandmother described a “great sense of loss” in knowing her granddaughter would never have the joy of being a mother.

The victim’s father also described how her death had greatly impacted his life emotionally and psychologically.

“He speaks of his life as being empty and lonely without his daughter. So, as I said, the impact is profound and lifelong (on the family),” Judge Wallace said.

She also accepted Penny was genuinely remorseful.

“You are consumed by your own grief and loss from this tragic situation, and you have empathy for the victim’s family members, who are similarly feeling loss and trauma,” the judge said.

Penny was sentenced to four years in prison and must serve half the term before he can be eligible for parole.

He was also banned from driving for four years.

Originally published as Man jailed for crash which killed mother of his newborn baby