By Brendan Rees
A drunk and ice-addled P-plate driver who hit speeds of up to 200km/h before he struck and killed an off-duty police officer on a memorial ride has been jailed.
Jesse Reid of Botanic Ridge pleaded guilty to charges of culpable driving causing death and reckless conduct endangering life in the Victorian County Court sitting in Melbourne on 30 August.
Reid was convicted after losing control at a bend, spinning the car into the path of 59-year-old Detective Senior Sergeant Victor Kostiuk.
Mr Kostiuk’s son Felix had been riding alongside him in the Wall to Wall motorbike charity ride to honour fallen police colleagues.
The court heard Felix was about to perform CPR on his father when he was verbally abused by an enraged Reid who was bleeding from the temple and had his fists clenched, Judge Trevor Wraight said.
Judge Wraight said Reid’s actions “were entirely irresponsible and self-indulgent.”
In his sentencing findings, the Judge said Reid, 23, was in a hurry to get home from a trip to Merimbula after receiving the news his partner had gone into early labour last September.
“OK drive safe, take your time and drive safely,” his partner’s mother said in a message.
Reid asked his 16-year-old friend to blow into the alcohol interlock device fitted to his Holden Commodore so it would start, the court heard.
They stopped at Eden to see friends, smoke ice and drink alcohol before continuing on the Princes Highway near Orbost.
The court heard Reid asked his friend to blow again into the interlock device on another five occasions.
Reid was seen by witnesses travelling at high speeds, overtaking cars on double white centre lines and driving around blind corners on the wrong side of the road.
At one point, while Reid was in the passenger’s seat, he took videos saying: “When you’re too f—– to drive and your baby is being born your mate comes through,” Judge Wraight said.
Later, when Reid was behind the wheel speeding, his companion spurred him on saying: “Keep going, keep going”.
Judge Wraight said that as Reid raced through Cabbage Tree Creek, about a five hours from Melbourne, a witnessed said the Commodore “just flew out of sight.”
Reid then struck and killed Detective Senior Sergeant Kostiuk with the tragedy having an immediate, devastating and on-going impact on his son Felix, also a police officer.
“I distinctly remember his arms flailing in the air,” Felix said of his father.
Judge Wraight said Felix had suffered post-traumatic disorder and had not returned to work.
“Your conduct at the scene in the moments following the collision was callous and reprehensible,” Judge Wraight said in his sentencing.
He continued: “Your attitude which is apparent on the videos of your driving while your friend is encouraging you to go faster further demonstrates your complete lack of regarding for whom may be at risk as a result of your conduct.“
Reid finished Year 10 and did an electrical apprenticeship for 18 months before doing various labouring jobs.
Reid was sentenced to a maximum of 10 years’ jail and will be eligible for parole in seven years.
