Izak Kane Sefton-Bennett sentenced for Burnside fatal crash
Emergency services responded to the fatal crash. (ABC News: Jessica Ross)
In short:
Sunshine Coast man Izak Kane Sefton-Bennett, 27, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after a 2023 crash which killed an aged care worker.
He crashed a vehicle he had stolen at gunpoint into 52-year-old Christella Tan's car on her way home from a night shift, and fled the scene.
What's next?
Sefton-Bennett is required to serve at least eight years in prison, although some time already served in custody will be taken into account.
A Queensland man who killed a "much-loved wife" and aged care worker speeding in a car he had stolen at gunpoint has been sentenced to 10 years' jail.
Christella Tan, 52, was driving home from a night shift about 7:30am on September 15, 2023 when Sunshine Coast man Izak Kane Sefton-Bennett slammed into her car.
Sefton-Bennett, 27, pleaded guilty on Monday morning in the Maroochydore District Court to 13 offences, including dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, callous disregard for the deceased, armed robbery and possession of a weapon.
He appeared in person in the dock and was greeted and farewelled by supporters in the courtroom.
Sefton-Bennett, who faces deportation to New Zealand upon release, has been in custody since the collision.
Gun, drugs found
The court heard the Caloundra West man had been driving on the wrong side of Windsor Road in Burnside and at high speed of at least 80 kilometres per hour prior to the collision, which happened metres before a 40kph school zone.
After the crash, Ms Tan became trapped in her vehicle and paramedics were unable to revive her.
She died at the scene.
Christella Tan was driving home from work when she was killed. (Supplied)
CCTV previously captured Sefton-Bennett driving erratically on other roads and he was later found to have been driving under the influence of drugs.
The court heard he had been swerving in and out of traffic on busy roads, including the Bruce Highway, tailgating and had crashed into a guardrail.
Sefton-Bennett fled the collision scene, despite witnesses trying to stop him and tell him they believed Ms Tan had died.
He was later arrested at a residence and found with drugs and drug paraphernalia.
Police also found him in possession of a sawn-off rifle which had been used in the armed robbery of the car.
Husband's 'deep pain'
In a victim impact statement read to the court on Monday, Ms Tan's husband described the "deep pain" and depression he had lived with since the death of his wife.
"Nothing in this world will heal my inner pain and torment,"he said.
The court heard Ms Tan's husband had moved in with his mother as he found it too painful to live in the home he had shared with his wife.
Tributes were left at the scene of the crash on Windsor Road in Burnside. (ABC Sunshine Coast: Josh Dye)
He said he had also lost interest in the activities he used to enjoy and struggled with feelings of anger and loneliness.
In a separate victim impact statement, Ms Tan's mother said it had been hard to see her "strong" son in so much pain and experiencing such a deep sadness.
'Prolonged' dangerous driving
The court was told about Sefton-Bennett's previous criminal history, including dangerous driving and weapons offences in the weeks before the fatal crash.
The court heard police had found videos of him driving while holding a sawn-off firearm and occasionally discharging it.
Sefton-Bennett was convicted for those offences in the Maroochydore Magistrates Court in 2024 and served one year in prison.
His lawyer told the court Sefton-Bennett's problems stemmed from his drug use, which had begun at a young age.
Prosecutors argued for an almost decade-long jail term for the dangerous driving charge alone, given the seriousness of the offending and the "prolonged" period of dangerous driving on busy roads prior to the crash.
The court heard Sefton-Bennett's driving had been "erratic" to the point his passenger believed the vehicle might roll upon him taking a corner and had asked him to slow down.
Judge Glen Cash sentenced him to 10 years in prison for his "serious and violent offending", with an eight-year non-parole period and 200 days already served.
He said he considered his "youth and cooperation", but the seriousness of causing Ms Tan's death needed to be taken into account.
Addressing Sefton-Bennett directly, Judge Cash said he had "devastated" Ms Tan's husband.
"She was a much-loved wife and it's reasonable to assume she was also loved by others in her community,"he said.
Sefton-Bennett was also disqualified from holding a licence for three years.