The 19-year-old driver who hit and killed South Australian Police Commissioner Grant Stevens' son at schoolies celebrations has avoided a jail term. Dhirren Randhawa was sentenced in South Australia's district court today over the death of Charlie Stevens who suffered an irreversible brain injury and died in hospital last year.
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00:00Leaving court flanked by family and supporters, Dhiren Randhawa was handed a sentence of one
00:08year, one month and seven days, with a non-parole period of seven months, to be fully suspended
00:14on a two-year good behaviour bond. He'll also be banned from holding a driver's licence
00:19for ten years. In sentencing, Judge Joanne Tracy considered his youth genuine remorse
00:25and lack of prior offending.
00:27It can only be hoped that the circumstances here give all road users an opportunity to
00:33reflect on the devastating consequences that flow from driving without proper care.
00:38She said while she accepted he had no intention to cause harm, general deterrence was of utmost
00:45significance.
00:46Charlie Stevens was only 18 and a bright future was ahead of him. He was much loved and his
00:52family are, and will forever remain, grief-stricken. Nothing said or done here today will heal
00:58their pain.
00:59Charlie Stevens died in hospital after sustaining an irreversible brain injury when he was struck
01:04by Randhawa's car at Galwa Beach south of Adelaide in November last year. Randhawa had
01:10pleaded guilty to aggravated driving without due care and leaving the scene of a crash.
01:15It was a sombre mood in the courtroom today which was mostly packed with members of the
01:19Stevens family. Outside of court, Police Commissioner Grant Stevens says his family
01:24are grateful that this part of the process is over and for the community's ongoing support.
01:30The judge during her summing up said today that no matter what happens in the courtroom
01:34today it's not going to change anything for our family and I think that's a very true
01:40statement. It's not getting any easier as I'm sure people who have lost a child would
01:45appreciate.
01:46A family grappling with heartbreaking loss.