A Queensland man who was 'blind drunk' and driving at extreme speed when he struck and killed a pedestrian in a hit-and-run has been sentenced to 14 years in prison. Brett Eddy, 42, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court in Brisbane to manslaughter and other charges over the death of 43-year-old Natasha Raven.
The court heard that on the day of the incident, which was Eddy's birthday, he had been drinking heavily. After being removed from a licensed venue, he drove to a friend's home, where he was described as 'loud and obnoxious' and 'blind drunk'. He continued drinking and later drove to a convenience store with a child, where staff said he was heavily intoxicated.
Crown prosecutor Stephen Muir told the court that Eddy then went on a 'drunken joyride', reaching speeds of up to 180 km/h through suburban streets. Muir said Eddy 'reprehensibly' had the child film his dangerous driving, capturing his 'obvious enjoyment' moments before the killing. At similar extreme speed, Eddy entered the shoulder of the road where Ms Raven was walking, just metres from her home, struck her, and fled the scene.
In victim impact statements read to the court, Ms Raven's brother Josh Raven said Eddy was a 'nightmare that lives in my head' and that the images from the crash scene would 'haunt me for the rest of my life'. Her best friend Lauren Richards said Ms Raven's death had left her with a pain she would carry forever, and that Ms Raven's son was 'broken by grief' and heading down the wrong path.
Appearing via video link from prison, Eddy apologised through tears, saying 'I'll never forgive myself' and 'I shouldn't have been on the road'. The court heard Eddy had a lengthy criminal record across three states and a history of unlicensed and drink driving offences. Justice Peter Davis noted Eddy's timely pleas and PTSD diagnosis but said he exhibited 'a high level of criminality' and that his driving was 'outrageously reckless'. Eddy was sentenced to 14 years in jail.
