The Victorian Court of Appeal has heard a Crown appeal seeking a tougher sentence for Christopher Dillon Joannidis, who was jailed over a 2023 crash in northern Victoria that claimed five lives.
Joannidis, 32, was sentenced last year to a minimum three years’ imprisonment, with a maximum term of five years, after pleading guilty to dangerous driving causing death.
The crash occurred at the intersection of the Murray Valley Highway and Laubuan Road when Joannidis drove through the intersection after ignoring multiple warning signs, colliding with a ute that was then pushed into the path of a milk tanker.
The collision killed Debbie Markey, 62, and overseas workers Pin-Yu Wang, Hsin-Yu Chen, Wai-Yan Lam and Zih-Yao Chen, who were from Hong Kong and Taiwan.
Appearing for the Office of Public Prosecutions, Elizabeth Ruddle KC told the court the sentence was “manifestly inadequate”.
“The term of imprisonment was manifestly inadequate to reflect the seriousness of the offending and the five lives that were lost,” she said.
Ms Ruddle argued Joannidis had previously been warned by police about the risks associated with the intersection, increasing his “moral culpability”. The court also heard the road contained seven warning mechanisms, including three sets of rumble strips.
“In the sentencing synthesis, something has gone wrong,” Ms Ruddle said.
She said the sentence had “failed to recognise the objective gravity of the offending and the loss of the five lives”.
Defence barrister Dermot Dann KC argued the appeal should be dismissed, saying the sentencing judge had carefully considered all relevant factors, including Joannidis’ guilty plea and remorse.
“The court should be rest assured that the director cannot point to any misapplication,” Mr Dann said.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its decision.
Source: ABC.
