24-year-old Bhupinder Singh has been sentenced to more than five years in jail, but not a life sentence, for causing the death of Christine Sandford, a 40-year-old mother of two, in a high-speed crash in Adelaide, Australian media reported. The accident took place in 2023 but the verdict was delayed as Singh pleaded for home detention instead of jail as he said practising Sikhs face religious hardship in custody, including ridicule, dietary challenges and an inability to maintain their hair.
Singh, however, pleaded guilty to causing death and expressed remorse.
District Court judge Paul Muscat said the accident was caused by Singh's rash driving as the speed of the Ford Mustang that he was driving was 160kph 2.5 seconds before he crashed into Sandford.
Sandford was in her car at a nearby petrol station just 500 meters away when Singh's car struck hers with such force that it pushed the vehicle 30 meters down the road. She died at the scene.
"You were tailgating and flashing your high beams...you were swerving around other cars at high speed. The risk that you posed to other persons driving at the speed at which you did must have been obvious to you," the judge told Singh. "Christine Sandford's death was totally avoidable if only you had obeyed the speed limit," judge Muscat said. "The crazy speed at which you were driving the Ford Mustang left you with no chance of avoiding crashing into her car."
"There is a road safety message that is often repeated to motorists, for good reason, it reminds us all 'speed kills', sadly that is precisely what happened here."
'There are no winners'
After the verdict, Sandford's father said there are no winners in the case as his daughter would never come back. Sandford was preparing a meal at that time and went to get cooking oil when the speeding car of Singh's killed her.
Singh was remanded for sentencing in May, lost 9kg in custody
Singh came to Australia from India five years ago to study. His attorney told the court that when he was remanded for sentencing in May, he faced ridicule because of his turban. He lost 9 kg in custody, the court was told. But the judge decided that the Sikh faith could not be a ground for less punishment.
Singh, however, pleaded guilty to causing death and expressed remorse.
District Court judge Paul Muscat said the accident was caused by Singh's rash driving as the speed of the Ford Mustang that he was driving was 160kph 2.5 seconds before he crashed into Sandford.
Sandford was in her car at a nearby petrol station just 500 meters away when Singh's car struck hers with such force that it pushed the vehicle 30 meters down the road. She died at the scene.
"You were tailgating and flashing your high beams...you were swerving around other cars at high speed. The risk that you posed to other persons driving at the speed at which you did must have been obvious to you," the judge told Singh. "Christine Sandford's death was totally avoidable if only you had obeyed the speed limit," judge Muscat said. "The crazy speed at which you were driving the Ford Mustang left you with no chance of avoiding crashing into her car."
"There is a road safety message that is often repeated to motorists, for good reason, it reminds us all 'speed kills', sadly that is precisely what happened here."
'There are no winners'
After the verdict, Sandford's father said there are no winners in the case as his daughter would never come back. Sandford was preparing a meal at that time and went to get cooking oil when the speeding car of Singh's killed her.
Singh was remanded for sentencing in May, lost 9kg in custody
Singh came to Australia from India five years ago to study. His attorney told the court that when he was remanded for sentencing in May, he faced ridicule because of his turban. He lost 9 kg in custody, the court was told. But the judge decided that the Sikh faith could not be a ground for less punishment.
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