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Allanah Sciberras
Mia Rossiter had bright dreams ahead of her 13th birthday.
She planned to get a nose piercing and do the things she loved, like watching anime.
It was her dream to become an author.
But her life was tragically cut short, and the lives of her loved ones changed forever, when a drug-affected driver crashed into their car just days into the new year.
Her family had just enjoyed a meal together when they were driving home in Stonehaven, near Geelong, on January 3, 2024.
Mia was sitting in the back seat with her seven-year-old sister, while her father Paul Rossiter lay asleep in the front, and her mother Danica drove.
Jordan Kenyon had been on GHB when he got behind the wheel and began to drive erratically before he crossed onto the wrong side of the road, lost control of his car and hit the family of four.
County Court Judge Michael Tinney described the “totally avoidable” actions of the 31-year-old as “manic”, adding the Rossiters were completely oblivious to the events that would alter their lives forever.
“It was really just a matter of time until you killed someone on the road,” Tinney told Kenyon on Wednesday.
“It could have been anyone who was unfortunate enough to have crossed your path on that day.”
All those inside the car suffered serious injuries, including Paul Rossiter, who still requires walking sticks and a moon boot.
Kenyon pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death, negligently causing serious injury and conduct endangering life.
During sentencing, Tinney outlined Kenyon’s extensive criminal history, including that he had been wearing an ankle bracelet after spending time in jail for a previous dangerous driving offence.
Tinney also referenced shocking footage from weeks before the crash.
The clip showed the killer driver swerving onto the wrong side of the road, driving with his knees, swigging from a can of Jack Daniel’s and cola and declaring he was the “best f—ing designated drunk driver in the world”.
“You were a maniac on the 14th of December [2023],” the judge said.
“Less than three weeks later, and a young girl is dead and her family changed forever. All because of you.”
Friends and family of the Rossiters filled the courtroom on Wednesday, with sobs and tears heard throughout as the events of that night were recounted.
Kenyon at times kept his head down during the near four-hour sentencing.
In the aftermath of the crash, Tinney said Kenyon lied to police and falsely claimed he was not the driver, blaming the crash on a non-existent person named “Brad”.
While there was no doubt Kenyon was sorry over the death of Mia, Tinney questioned whether Kenyon’s remorse was genuine.
Tinney also revealed authorities had believed Kenyon had repeatedly breached his parole conditions on numerous occasions.
“You are a drug-affected, negligent and incompetent driver,” Tinney said.
“It could not have been made clearer to you. You [couldn’t] care less, so now a family has been damaged forever by you.”
Tinney handed Kenyon a 16-year sentence, which includes a non-parole period of 12 years.
As he was led from the dock, family members shouted, “Watch your back”, at the 31-year-old killer driver before gathering to consider their next steps.
“He will do it again,” Rossiter told reporters outside court.
“The sentence baffles me.”
He described his daughter as having a heart of gold, who loved her animals and had an incredible future cut short.
AAP
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