A woman who fatally injured a pedestrian with her car in the Adelaide Hills later told police she had drunk two six-packs of beer before getting behind the wheel.
Key points:
- Lisa Trewren hit and killed pedestrian David Hoy on Mount Barker Road
- The judge said he was cowardly in trying to dissuade a passenger from calling the police
- He will spend time in prison and will be banned from driving for 15 years
Lisa Marie Trewren, 39, was jailed for eight years on Wednesday for the death of David Hoy, 31, in Totness on December 20 last year.
Mr Hoy, who was also known as Amy, had been collecting cans on the side of Mount Barker Road that night when Trewren lost control of his car and hit him, causing fatal injuries.
The district court heard he had previously driven from Murray Bridge to his ex-partner’s home in Hahndorf.
A photo of David Hoy provided by his family. (Supplied)
The man told police they drove to a beach where Trewren stayed in the car drinking beer to the point of vomiting.
The court heard on the way back to Hahndorf, Trewren insisted on returning to Murray Bridge, ignoring his former partner’s warnings not to drive, a decision the sentencing judge described as “shocking”.
“By your selfish, totally irresponsible and drunken action that night, you would take another person’s life,” said Judge Paul Muscat.
Immediately after fatally injuring Mr Hoy, a passenger in Trewren’s car called the police, prompting threats from Trewren which were recorded by the police operator.
“Which you then tried to dissuade [the passenger] calling the authorities was not only totally unacceptable but also selfish and cowardly behaviour,” Judge Muscat said.
Trewren was already disqualified from driving for a drink-driving charge in May last year.
Trewren’s car after the crash on Mount Barker Road in Totness. (ABC News)
In sentencing, Judge Muscat acknowledged Trewren’s mental health problems, which worsened after his mother’s death in 2019 and contributed to his drinking, as well as his remorse and first guilty plea .
But he said his actions carried a high level of moral culpability.
Trewren’s sentence was discounted by 25% for an early guilty plea.
He must serve four years and nine months before being eligible for parole and is prohibited from driving for 15 years once released.