Prosecutors are appealing the “manifestly inadequate” sentence handed to Christopher Joannidis, who was jailed for five-and-a-half years after causing a devastating crash that killed five people and a dog in Strathmerton, Victoria.
According to Nine News, Joannidis was warned by police just minutes before the crash about the dangers of the road and had been issued a speeding ticket for travelling at 118km/h in a 100km/h zone.
Despite this, he ignored give way signs, crossed three sets of rumble strips, and drove onto the Murray Valley Highway without stopping.
This led to a collision that pushed a Nissan Navara into the path of a milk truck, killing 62-year-old Deborah Markey, four farm workers from Taiwan and Hong Kong, and Markey’s dog.
Despite pleading guilty to five counts of dangerous driving causing death, Joannidis could walk free on parole in less than three years.
The Office of Public Prosecutions has now confirmed an appeal, arguing the sentence fails to reflect the severity of the tragedy.
Source: Nine News
