Father jailed for crash that killed son
The father whose three year-old son died after he lost control of his illegally modified V8 car has been jailed for two years and four months by a District Court judge.
Toddler Dre Newman died in May 2012 when his father Michael Brian Newman lost control of his the Holden Commodore on West Swan Road in Caversham.
Newman, 34, last month pleaded guilty on what was to have been the first day of his trial on charges of dangerous driving causing the death of his son.
He admitted that a $200 change to the car, which fitted a "mini-spool", along with his driving had caused the back wheels to lock and skid into a tree.
Dre, who was strapped in a booster seat in the rear, suffered fatal head injuries in the impact.
At a sentencing hearing at Perth's District Court today, Judge Henry Wisbey said Newman had been described as a "tortured and broken man" since the crash.
"As a consequence of this tragedy, you are entrenched in your own grief and shame," Justice Wisbey said.
The court was told that after the death of his son, Newman became addicted to methylamphetamine, which in turn led to further police charges, and some time on remand in jail.
Justice Wisbey said Newman's main culpability came in having the spool - which is associated with Motorsport vehicles - fitted to the car.
"He did not give proper thought to the consequences," Judge Wisbey said
Newman will be eligible for parole after 14 months and was disqualified from driving for three years.
