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A 13-year-old boy, whose identity has been protected, confessed to driving over 200 km/h on a highway near Maryborough on the Fraser Coast. His antics led to a crash involving three cars, resulting in the deaths of Michale Chandler, 29, Kelsie Davies, 17, and Sheree Robertson, 52.
He was sentenced to six years, to serve 60 per cent of that time behind bars.
Attorney-General Deb Frecklington pushed for an appeal against what she described as a “manifestly inadequate” sentence, advocating that the teenager should have faced a seven-year term, which was the maximum allowable sentence at that time.
However, after deliberating for two weeks, a panel of three appeal judges decided to dismiss the appeal. They concluded that a six-year sentence was “significant” and “appropriate,” taking into account the boy’s age, his guilty plea, lack of criminal record, and his “positive engagement” with rehabilitation programs while in detention.
The families of the victims were not in court to hear the appeal denied.
Victims advocate Lyndy Atkinson told 9News she was disappointed and frustrated by the decision.
“It speaks for itself that the victims here are not here, because they just, they knew that there wouldn’t be any change,” Atkinson said.
“It just doesn’t meet community expectations.
“He’s out at the end of next year and he’ll be 16.
“Leading his best life and yet he’s destroyed so many lives, three lives, and all the families with it.”
