Speeding drunk driver Aaron Travis Pompey killed four frien

[benking]

Source: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au

Thought that this one would be interesting - It shows just how easily this can happen, and to people who wouldn't normally do something like this. Even the most polite, genuine people can make horrible mistakes - read below...

A YOUNG man who only commits crimes "whilst affected by alcohol" will serve at least five years' jail over a fatal car crash.

The District Court today sentenced Aaron Travis Pompey to eight years' jail for killing four friends in a high-speed, drunken crash near Ceduna last year.

Judge Michael Boylan also disqualified Pompey, 20, from driving for 10 years.

In sentencing, he said Pompey was a polite, shy and popular young man with a bright future - but had made a terrible mistake by drinking and driving.

"You seem only to offend whilst affected by alcohol," he said.

"It is most distressing to sentence a man as young as you to a long period of imprisonment, especially in light of your never having been in trouble as a youth.

"Sadly, driving offences such as yours are so often committed by young men who have been in little or no trouble.

"The courts must make it plain that youth and good character will not excuse dangerous driving."

In May last year, Pompey, two of his cousins and two friends from Western Australia spent a day drinking together.

In the early hours of the morning, they took turns driving a car along the Eyre Highway, 17km from Ceduna.

Pompey - who had a blood alcohol reading of at least 0.103 - crashed the car into a tree while driving at almost 180 km/h.

Today, Judge Boylan said the car had been stolen, but Pompey was likely unaware of that fact.

"There is no doubt that you are truly remorseful, truly sorry, for what you have done," he said.

"You bitterly regret the deaths of your friends, and have not tried to blame them or anyone else.

"You have accepted full responsibility for their deaths, and for the deep and permanent sadness which you have caused so many people."

Judge Boylan ordered Pompey also serve out his previously suspended sentence, for breaking into a house while drunk.

He imposed a total sentence of nine years and three months, with a five-year non-parole period.

[scotty]

Throw the book at him. He took people's lives. He was stupid enough to drive a car whilst under the influence of alcohol, and was speeding. Accidents happen, but this could have been prevented. Such a shame for the families of the victims, and the victims themselves.

[ZR8]

or ban alcohol, either way, shit's not changing and never will.

[88bin]

Its so hard to comment on.. a kid who never did anything wrong before drank to much and gave into peer pressure (this kid obviosly wasnt the ring leader if the car was stolen and he didnt know it). He is going to be living with the fact that he killed 4 people and that has gotta hurt and be eating at you forever. Im sure whenever he closes his eyes he re-sees the moment and is never going to forget it and is going to be regretting it forever. I mean he definatly cant be get away with it and needs to face the consquences but i think that living with what he did is bigger punishment then jail or loss of licence.

[trayne]

or ban alcohol, either way, shit's not changing and never will.

lets not get hasty here people

i do how ever think they should throw the book at him but accidents happen drunk or not but were 4 people were killed and there was alcohol involved he didn't really pick his time for a hoon all that well

[ZR8]

Obviously I wasnt being serious.

[Lauren]

you cant really say that he's never done anything wrong before when the article ends with: "Judge Boylan ordered Pompey also serve out his previously suspended sentence, for breaking into a house while drunk"... it also states that he was "likely unaware " that the car was stolen, so there is still the possibility that he did know...

all this aside, People need to realise that they DO have a choice when it comes to drink driving and if they were his cousins/mates they shouldn't have cared if he didn't drive. its really horrible what happened and i cant imagine what he's going through but some people need to learn how to say no sometimes...

p.s The victims consisted of two 17 year old boys, a 24 year old and a 15 year old boy. All victims were Aboriginal males(as another article stated) and he was also driving without a licence

[benking]

That's a pretty interesting way of looking at it, and quite true too.

If you really analyse the article, you can see that he's not the innocent boy they make him out to be in the third paragraph..

Interesting stuff.