By Mitchell Clarke
A 19-year-old learner driver has been sentenced to four years in youth detention after he killed his 15-year-old girlfriend when he crashed into a tree in Longwarry.
Garfield teenager Georgia Larsen sustained fatal head injuries as a result of the crash while her boyfriend, then 18-year-old Joshua Lewis, suffered injuries to his head and leg.
Mr Lewis was driving Ms Larsen to school in Drouin on 18 February last year when he lost control of the vehicle on Evans Road, Longwarry at approximately 8.35am.
Paramedics arrived on scene at 9am and transported Georgia to hospital where she later died.
The court heard Mr Lewis was travelling at 102 km/h in a 100 km zone, but this driving was considered “excessive” when taking into account the conditions along Evans Road, which was made up of loose stone and gravel.
Prior to the fatal accident, Mr Lewis lied to his employer about holding a driver’s license, who provided him with a white Mercedes. He also relayed that same lie to Georgia’s parents, Tracey and Shannon, who agreed to let him take their daughter to school.
A month before the crash he was fined for unlicensed driving.
During sentencing on Wednesday 31 July in the County Court, Judge Mark Gamble said Josh must take responsibility for his “selfish behaviour” and its consequences.
“It must be remembered that the principle victim of this offending is Georgia herself, the life of a bright, effervescent and very loving girl was prematurely ended in the most tragic of circumstances,” Judge Gamble said.
“She never got to fulfil her undoubted potential nor experience the joys and challenges of a life fully lived.
“She was also prevented from sharing in the lives of her family and friends. Part of the tragedy rests in the fact that like all such cases, that dangerous driving, the situation was avoidable.”
But Judge Gamble was satisfied that Mr Lewis’ remorse was genuine and deeply felt, and that in these circumstances, he’d be entitled to and would receive a significant discount on his sentence.
He added that it’d be reasonable to assume that adult imprisonment would pose more of a threat to Mr Lewis’ physical and mental wellbeing.
Judge Gamble said that despite Mr Lewis’ decision to get behind the wheel being a “calculated decision” rather than a spontaneous decision, his prospects of rehabilitation were reasonable.
Taking into account Mr Lewis’ young age, early plea, significant PTSD symptoms and the potential for a “particularly onerous experience” in adult prison, he sentenced him to four years in a youth justice facility.
Meanwhile, the Larsen family continue to face the heartbreaking task of living without their precious daughter and sister, Georgia.
