Justice for James - changing the law for serious road crimes
Petitioner:
Mr Dean McNulty
| Member:
Tesch, Liesl
| No. of Signatories:
7,545
| Date closed:
03/08/2023
The family of James Edds brings to our attention the urgent need to reform the NSW law relating to serious road crimes.
On the 4th January 2023, James and his mother were heading to the shops to buy soccer boots when they were involved in a car accident with an alleged drink driver. James sadly passed away from his injuries on 7 January 2023 at just nine years old. The alleged drink driver, who is facing a maximum sentence of 14 years if found guilty, remains on bail after the fatal crash.
Aggravated dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death carry maximum sentences of 14 and 10 years respectively. However, the Guideline Judgement that sets a ‘likely outcome’ for a person convicted of an offence causing death is imprisonment of not less than three years, well short of the maximum sentences.
The reality is that for grieving families there appears to be no justice in the current system.
We ask the Legislative Assembly call on the Government to change the law and secure justice for James Edds by:
• Toughening bail laws where an offence has led to death; and
• Increasing maximum sentences for serious road crimes causing death or injury
