A COURT has heard about the ongoing pain and devastation experienced by the family of Wagga woman Sarah Lloyd after a heavily drunk driver caused her "unjust death" in 2017.
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Ms Lloyd was tragically killed near West Wyalong when she was the passenger of a ute driven by father-of-two Nicholas James Parr, who was found to have a blood alcohol reading of .147 at the crash scene.
The 19-year-old woman, from Wagga, was one of four people in Parr's Toyota HiLux when it left Lake Cargelligo Road and rolled about 5am on August 12.
Parr, 25, and the other two male passengers were flown to hospital for treatment, but Ms Lloyd died at the scene.
Parr appeared in Wagga District Court today for a sentencing hearing after pleading guilty to dangerous driving while under the influence of alcohol causing death to Ms Lloyd, and causing grievous bodily harm to another passenger.
The victim impact statement by Ms Lloyd's mother, Tracey Lloyd, was read to the court by family friend Natalie Ellis.
"My memories are broken into moments in time," Ms Ellis read.
"I remember my son screaming in anguish, punching each wall and the door as he ran out of the room. His sister, who's his best friend, gone.
"The holes in doors and walls are still there today - a daily reminder of his pain and suffering.
"I will always be Sarah's mum, but my life will never be the same.
"My daily life runs on autopilot. I function, participate and exist because I have other children."
I want Nicholas to remember the girl he killed ... because her death was preventable.
- Tracey Lloyd
The court heard that the four went hunting at Lake Cargelligo and that Parr had been "constantly drinking" during the trip.
When they decided to leave at 2am on August 12, Parr shared a bottle of rum with one of the male passengers inside the ute.
Mrs Lloyd's statement said her daughter would have been celebrating her 21st birthday this week.
"But instead, we are here to find out the impact the incident will have on Nicholas Parr's life and being reminded of Sarah's unjust death," Mrs Lloyd said in the statement.
"Sarah did not get her injuries [tended to] by the ambulance, doctors and nurses like the others did. Sarah was left lifeless at the scene. The last to be taken away because she could not be saved.
"I want Nicholas to remember the girl he killed ... because her death was preventable."
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Parr, who lives in Collingullie, was also called by the defence to the witness box where he said he was "shattered" and "numbed" when asked about the likelihood of being taken into custody.
Asked about how he felt in relation to the victim impact statement, Parr broke down in tears and said: "I'm gutted for my actions, pretty much shouldn't have happened.
"I'm so sorry to everyone that I've hurt, especially to Sarah's family.
"I wish I could go back to that night and I'd never make the stupid, reckless decision to drink and drive.
"I will forever regret my actions and I'm so sorry."
In his remarks about the victim impact statement, Judge Gordon Lerve said: "I have been a judicial officer since 2005 [and] I do not recall hearing a victim impact statement that powerful.
"There must be a substantial sentence of imprisonment ... given the nature of the seriousness of the offending."
Earlier in the sentence hearing, defence barrister Christine Mendes argued for leniency based on the extra-curial punishment that Parr has already received.
Ms Mendes also cited Parr's relatively young age, poor mental health, no prior convictions and remorse
However, Crown prosecutor Andrew Hanshaw said there were contradictions between Parr's statements in the psychological report and what he said in court.
"When Sarah Lloyd's parents go home, they don't have her but when this offender leaves jail, he'd still have his children," he said.
Before reserving his sentence until later this month, Judge Lerve said to Ms Mendes: "I'm going to adjourn for a few minutes to allow your client's family the opportunity that Ms Lloyd's parents did not - of saying goodbye."