A disqualified driver with an “appalling” and “despicable” record of offences has been sentenced to seven years and 10 months' jail for the hit-and-run death of a bike rider in 2022.
Bike rider Makaro Manapori, 58, of Hampton Park was struck at the intersection of Pound Road and Hallam Road in Hampton Park in January 2022 on his way to work in the early morning.
He was killed instantly, and his body was flung more than 40 metres, after he was hit by a stolen vehicle being driven by Peter Koutsogiannakis that sped through a red light at more than 80 km/h.
Koutsogiannakis, 30, a disqualified driver, failed to stop and render assistance, and later set fire to the car.
He handed himself into police after video footage emerged of him running from the scene of the fire. However, he made no admissions of involvement in the crash during a committal hearing and 10-day trial.
In sentencing, Judge Frances Hogan said Koutsogiannakis had “a truly appalling record for repeatedly committing offences of dishonesty, seriously bad driving, disregarding the authority of police who try to ensure safety on the roads and flagrantly disobeying the law which requires you to have a licence to drive”.
“Within a short time of having caused the death of Mr Manapori whilst driving a stolen car bearing stolen registration plates, disobeying road rules and being disqualified from driving, you again offended with more dishonesty offences involving thefts of cars and registration plates, dangerous driving and careless driving causing collisions, and fled from the scenes of collisions.
“This would be likely to shock the conscience of members of the community in that it demonstrates a grave affront to the standards of reasonable, decent behaviour expected by our society.
“Your offending prior and subsequent to the serious offending for which I must sentence you involves a total of eight thefts of motor vehicles, six occasions of driving whilst authorisation was suspended, eight occasions of driving whilst disqualified, three occasions of unlicensed driving and, also, charges of careless driving, dangerous/negligent driving whilst being pursued by police, dangerous driving, exceeding the speed limit, failing a blood test for drugs within three hours of driving, failing to stop after an accident and failing to stop on police direction.
“You have shown yourself to have a sense of entitlement devoid of any moral qualms when it comes to the property of others and the safety of others on the road.”
Her Honour described Koutsogiannakis’ failures to stop and render assistance after the collision as “despicable”. Koutsogiannakis was disqualified from obtaining a licence for 10 years.
BICYCLE NETWORK COMMENT:
Too often we learn that drivers convicted of serious offences involving people riding bikes are repeat offenders, yet are still driving, continuing to put lives at risk. Her Honour’s comments on this case should be required reading in the nation’s law enforcement and court communities.
The full sentencing remarks are available here.
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