WA drink-driver abused over fatal crash
A repeat drink-driver who killed two young men has been threatened in court by angry family members disappointed in his eight-year sentence.
When Perth District Court Judge Patrick O'Neal sentenced Andrew David Richmond on Friday to a minimum of six years behind bars, furious family members screamed abuse and called Richmond a "dog", with one man ejected from the court after repeatedly swearing.
"We all hope you rot in hell," another man shouted.
After the court adjourned, a woman jumped over a bench and launched herself towards Richmond, screaming, before security pulled her back.
Richmond, 43, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving offences, drink-driving and driving an unlicensed vehicle over the April 3 crash in which his ute collided with a sedan in Perth's south.
Peter Liebeck, 20, and Benjamin Brown, 23, were killed while their friend Danny Woolhead was seriously injured.
The court heard Richmond had a blood-alcohol level of 0.166 at the time and had three previous convictions for drink-driving, including one just a month before the fatal crash.
Judge O'Neal accepted that Richmond was remorseful and had pleaded guilty early, but said he showed a "selfish disregard" for the safety of others.
When the judge mentioned Richmond had two daughters about the same age as the crash victims, family members gasped in court.
Earlier, family members wept as a letter from Richmond was read to the court in which he said he "deeply regretted" his "atrocious actions" and explained that he had long used alcohol as a way of dealing with stress.
"I've made that choice time and time again, thinking that it was only myself that I had to think about," he said.
"I now comprehend my stupidity."
Richmond said he often replayed his actions in his mind "hoping each time that they will play out differently".
"I wish I could go back and make a different decision," he said.
"I wish I could give those two men back to their families.
"I'm disgusted and ashamed of myself."
Richmond said while he could not ask for forgiveness, he was addressing his drinking problem.
Defence lawyer George Papamihail said his client told police after the crash to take him to jail immediately.
Mr Brown's father read his victim impact statement to the court in which he said his son's life was taken away in a violent and cruel way leaving a "network of pain" for his loved ones who were in "daily anguish".
"Our future is stifled with so many reminders of Ben," he said.
Outside court, Mr Liebeck's mother said the sentence was a joke and she wanted laws changed.
Other family members said they were hoping the sentence would be appealed.
Richmond's earliest release date is April 2020 and he has also been banned from driving for life.
