A killer driver has been handed a suspended sentence after causing a crash that left three people dead — an incident the judge described as a “true tragedy for everyone involved”.
Italian tourist Gabriele Cairo, 29, previously pleaded guilty to causing the deaths of Cynthia and John Clark and their 54-year-old daughter, Jacqueline Clark, in the crash which occurred in South Australia’s Mid North last year.
Cairo crashed a hire campervan into the car in which the three victims were travelling on October 31, 2023.
The two women died at the crash site, while Mr Clark, 86, was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with serious injuries and died about a week later.
Gabriele Cairo (right) and his wife Elena Perrone speaking with the victims’ family spokesperson Jon Reinke. (ABC News)
In South Australia’s District Court on Friday, Judge Paul Muscat handed Cairo a head sentence of three years and six months in prison, but he suspended it on the basis that Cairo’s culpability was “at the lower end of the range of seriousness for this offence”.
“You did not deliberately drive dangerously and you certainly did not intend for this to happen,” he said.
“You’re a good person and you were enjoying life with your wife by your side when this occurred.”
Cairo is not allowed to hold a driver’s licence for 15 years, backdated to October 2023.
Judge Muscat said Cairo, who was on a honeymoon with his wife at the time of the collision, was a man of “exceptional character” who held “strong values” of generosity and kindness.
He said Cairo had never before been in a car accident, nor had he previously broken the law.
“This is a true tragedy for everyone involved,” he said.
“It is an unfortunate reminder that even careful drivers can lose concentration, leading to catastrophic consequences.
“Sometimes in life people do things that cannot be changed.”
Judge Muscat said Cairo was “remorseful” and the family of the victims had forgiven the driver.
“As you [Cairo] wrote, you wished you could go back in time to do things differently to avoid the collision but you recognised life does not work like that so you did all that you could, which was to accept responsibility and apologise for the tragic outcome,” he said.
“You experienced grief each day, in fact it’s fair to say you are a shattered young man going through a difficult time.”
Judge Muscat said it was not a case in which the driver was travelling at excessive speed or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“Based on all of these considerations, particularly your favourable subjective circumstances, I am satisfied that good reason exists to suspend your sentence,” he said.
The crash happened at an intersection near Blyth in SA’s Mid North. (ABC News)
Cairo quietly cried as he sat in the dock listening to Judge Muscat hand down the sentence.
The court previously heard Cairo was not speeding, nor was he on the phone, when he failed to give way and drove through the intersection of Templeton and Blyth roads at Everard Central.
Cairo, whose wife Elena Perrone was badly injured in the crash, also pleaded guilty to one count of causing harm by dangerous driving.
Family ‘feels sorry’ for driver
On Friday, spokesperson for the Clark family, Jon Reinke, said he “respected” the judgement, and that it was “the right decision”.
“There’s no point in sending somebody like him, Gabriele, to jail, there’s no rhyme nor reasoning for that,” he said.
“I feel sorry for him and his wife, there’s no point in having a vendetta. Anger can consume you in my opinion.
“I wish them all the best in their return to Italy.
“We’ve all got to move forward.”
Jon Reinke spoke on behalf of the Clark family. (ABC News)
A tearful Ms Perrone told the media outside court she had spoken to the Clark family and was “grateful” to them.
“I’m glad they understood and they forgive us,” she said.
“We’re glad we can go home.”
Cairo’s defence lawyer, Michael Woods, said the Clark family showed “great empathy” during what he said was a “very difficult” case for the Italian couple.
“Gabriele and his wife will never forget the Clark family,” he said.
Cairo, whose visa was extended as he faced court proceedings, is expected to return to Italy.
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