Maree Ann Deverix in court for crash while driving under the influence, leaving her alcoholic teen son with brain injuries
A mother under the influence of drugs and alcohol was driving her alcoholic son to a medical appointment when she ploughed into a tree – leaving him with a lifelong brain injury, a court has heard.
A teenager on the way to a medical appointment for his diagnosed alcoholism was left with a lifelong brain injury after his mother – under the influence of alcohol and cannabis – drove her car into a tree in the state’s north, a court has heard.
Maree Ann Deverix, of Angus Valley, appeared in the District Court on Thursday after pleading guilty to aggravated cause serious harm by dangerous driving.
In front of Judge Jane Schammer, a prosecutor submitted Deverix, 41, returned a positive blood alcohol reading of 0.14 per cent – over double the legal limit – following the Williamstown incident.
“Here the defendant was drinking alcohol while driving her 19-year-old son – who was diagnosed as alcoholic – to a medical appointment related to the adverse effects of alcoholism on his brain function,” they said. “The irony and the tragedy is that the defendant’s own alcoholism and cannabis use – combined with her decision to allow her son to be a passenger in her car while she drove under the influence of these substances – has resulted in a serious brain injury to her son.
“There is the extra-curial punishment that is already being suffered by the defendant – knowing that her adverse actions have adversely altered her own son’s life. That cannot be an easy burden to live with.
“The prosecution submits that this offending is too serious for the court not to impose an immediate custodial sentence. We submit that a suspended sentence would not be an appropriate punishment to denounce the objective seriousness of the offence committed by the defendant.”
Emergency services were called to the scene in Williamstown after 5pm February 29 last year after reports a northbound car had left the road and hit a tree.
Both Deverix – who was issued with an instant loss of licence following her arrest – and her passenger Evan Lee Deverix were taken to hospital.
The injuries Mr Deverix sustained left him in critical condition suffering from a serious brain injury – which he is now receiving care for from the Lifetime Support Scheme.
On Thursday, the court heard Mr Deverix’s recovery and rehab since the incident had been “quite remarkable” – with the prosecution submitting he was now able to function “relatively independently”.
“I’m sure in hindsight Ms Deverix wished she never made that decision, but she did – and they are one of the unfortunate and tragic consequences particularly when it involves harm to one’s own child,” the prosecutor said.
“Had this matter not involved alcohol and cannabis, maybe the prosecution may have taken a different attitude to penalty.”
Deverix will return to court next month for sentencing.
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Originally published as Maree Ann Deverix in court for crash while driving under the influence, leaving her alcoholic teen son with brain injuries
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