A 31-year-old man who killed award-winning novelist and university professor Brenda Walker in a high-speed crash in Perth's CBD has been sentenced to four years in prison. Lucas Martins Da Silva pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death in circumstances of aggravation.
The court heard that in December 2024, Martins Da Silva was driving his hatchback more than 30 kilometres per hour over the speed limit on Kings Park Road when he struck Ms Walker, 67, who was on her morning walk. She was thrown into the air and suffered traumatic brain injuries and fractures across her body.
Judge Wendy Gillan described the vehicle as 'like a weapon' but acknowledged that Martins Da Silva did not intend to hit Ms Walker. The driver had no drugs or alcohol in his system, but his lawyer said he was fatigued from working excessively long hours.
In court, Ms Walker's husband, Alexander Ruskulis, read a victim impact statement calling her 'my soulmate, my best friend'. Outside court, he expressed disappointment with the sentence, saying, 'He could be out on the streets in two years, whereas we live with the consequences of this for the rest of our lives.'
Ms Walker was a professor of English at the University of Western Australia and an award-winning novelist, winning the inaugural Hungerford Award for her first novel, Crush, in 1991. Her publisher described her as 'a gentle, generous, considerate person and a writer of immense talent'.
Martins Da Silva will be eligible for parole after two years, and his licence is disqualified for four years after release. His lawyer indicated he is likely to be deported to Brazil after serving his sentence.
