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Lanakn jailed for drag-race death

7 December 2012 01:43 am - 18     - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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A Sri Lankan man who killed another driver when drag racing has today been jailed for at least 18 months.

Shyam Jayasinghe, 28, was driving at up to 50 kilometres more than the speed limit when drag racing on the Princes Highway in Dandenong, before crashing into a car driven by Afghan refugee and father-of-one Hamedjan Hussaini.

Mr Hussaini, 32, had been on his way home from work at about 7.45pm and was turning right when Jayasinghe slammed into him.

Jayasinghe pleaded guilty in the County Court to one charge of dangerous driving causing death.

Judge Christine Thornton said witnesses claimed Jayasinghe was racing his red Honda with a red Ford up a hill at speeds of between 100km/h and 110km/h on Tuesday night, March 13 last year.

The speed limit on that section of the Princes Highway is 60km/h.

Neither driver could see what was in front of them when they reached the top of the hill.

The judge said Jayasinghe's actions had been deliberate conduct with the potential to endanger others.

It was not a case of momentary inattention where the moral culpability was low.

Judge Thornton said Mr Hussaini's death had had a life-changing impact on his wife, 24, and five-year-old son.

Mr Hussaini had met his wife at a refugee camp in Pakistan in 2004 after both had fled the war in Afghanistan and they married a year later.

The judge said Mr Hussaini came to Australia in 2008 and his wife followed two years later.

Mr Hussaini worked seven days a week as a renderer and loved his family very much, Judge Thornton said.

His wife was still grieving his death and his son continues to ask when his father is coming home.

They now live in a small apartment and struggle to get by financially.

The judge said their emotional loss was immeasurable.

"No sentencing disposition will assuage their grief," she said.

Judge Thornton said Jayasinghe was born in England but went to live with his parents in Sri Lanka when he was 3. He came to Australia in 2008.
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Jayasinghe had a masters degree in international business from Monash University and was working as a sales representative driving up to 500 kilometres a week for his job before the accident.

Judge Thornton said Jayasinghe was genuinely remorseful for what he had done and now suffered from post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety and depression.

He had since set up a Facebook page to promote road safety.

Jayasinghe was jailed for a total of three years with a non-parole period of 18 months and disqualified from driving for two years. (Source: The Age)

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  Comments - 18

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  • Vincent Rice Friday, 07 December 2012 06:32 AM

    Pleading guilty is sometimes done to prevent long drawn cases. Read behind the lines... Witnesses have 'claimed' drag racing..and the other car that was supposed to have raced was NEVER found. You mean Australian police CANNOT find the other vehicle that raced? Don't they have CCTV? The car that was supposed to race disappeared to thin air? Something fishy....

    another Rajapakse.. Saturday, 08 December 2012 11:55 AM

    come to my country doing masters and a sales representatitive.. is not acceptable in Australia,,


    I

    OMG Friday, 07 December 2012 01:41 PM

    I wonder how many poor innocent people are going to lose their dear lives when the racing thing kicks off in Colombo.

    Wayne Ebert Friday, 07 December 2012 10:46 AM

    Bloody wanker.

    Awshad Rahim Friday, 07 December 2012 10:21 AM

    In Japan he will have to pay the the salary received by the deceased until his retirement little by little even after the Prison Term is over,To the Wife & Child.

    ruan dayananda Friday, 07 December 2012 09:50 AM

    what is Lanakn jailed for drag-race death ????

    Lanakn???????????

    Lobo Friday, 07 December 2012 06:46 AM

    he's out in 18 months but the widow and kid will suffer for the rest of their lives.

    Gamarala Friday, 07 December 2012 06:37 AM

    What good was his education, at age 28 with a Masters degree he is drag racing? I hope he learnt his lesson, lucky for him it was Australia, if iw was in a middle eastern country, he would have been either sentenced to death or given at least 25 to 30 years in a stinking prison.

    Upul Friday, 07 December 2012 06:32 AM

    This is the result of encouraging Car racing in the first place.

    Rom Friday, 07 December 2012 01:56 AM

    Hope the green park and Galle road ragers will learn from this ,

    Damma Deepa Friday, 07 December 2012 05:28 AM

    " The wife and the child of the deceased should have been paid sufficient assistance at least for five years by the driver for his negligence in addition to the conviction. "

    Clint VIC Friday, 07 December 2012 04:18 AM

    ya he was never meant to be born either... it was a time during power cuts for his parents... if you know what i mean... hope he gets it good from the inmates in Goulburn

    hrm Friday, 07 December 2012 04:11 AM

    He's a baby. Doing racing on public highways is totally unacceptable and unjustifiable.

    PoliticallyIncorrect Friday, 07 December 2012 04:10 AM

    MAybe he was warming up for the Colombo Night Races.

    Dammika Friday, 07 December 2012 03:55 AM

    He should have known better

    Sameera Friday, 07 December 2012 03:57 AM

    not enough for one who puts the life of another in danger.. but their law is law for any class of people !

    Sam Friday, 07 December 2012 02:53 AM

    He didnt mean to kill anybody

    Chandler Friday, 07 December 2012 02:31 AM

    18 months. Only a slap on the wrist!


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