“Selfish” Driver Fails Appeal in Queensland Mother’s Manslaughter Case – Faces Deportation
Brisbane, Australia – A Queensland driver who intentionally veered into oncoming traffic in a suicide attempt, tragically killing a mother-of-four, has lost his appeal for a reduced sentence. Jacob Paul Johnston,21 at the time of the incident,will remain eligible for parole in September 2030 and will be deported to New Zealand upon his release [[1]].
The devastating crash occurred on the D’Aguilar Highway near Harlin, northwest of Brisbane, in December 2021. Michelle Wolff,a 49-year-old nurse,was fatally injured while on a hands-free call with her daughter after a late shift.
Johnston pleaded guilty and was initially sentenced in April 2024 to 10 years imprisonment for manslaughter, with an additional 12 months for attempting to pervert justice – stemming from his efforts to convince a former partner to retract her statement regarding his prior suicidal intentions.
Despite arguing the sentence was excessive given his mental state,remorse,and injuries sustained in the crash,the queensland Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal. Justices John Bond, David Boddice, and Tom Sullivan acknowledged johnston’s youth and lack of prior criminal record but emphasized the severity of his actions.
“[Johnston’s] offending was objectively at the more serious end of manslaughter offences committed by driving,” the justices stated, adding that the “devastating consequences” of his conduct “warranted a sentence in which denunciation loomed large.”
This case highlights the serious penalties associated with vehicular manslaughter, which can carry a maximum sentence of ten years in state prison along with fines up to $10,000, particularly when involving gross negligence [[1]]. While manslaughter charges can sometimes result from a “temporary lapse in judgment,” this case involved a deliberate act, leading to the upheld sentence [[2]].
Keywords: Manslaughter, vehicular manslaughter, Queensland, Australia, sentencing, parole, deportation, suicide attempt, Michelle Wolff, jacob Paul Johnston, Court of Appeal.
