DOG HAS HIS DAY IN COURT
The Mount Gambier Magistrates Court went barking mad as it was held up last week by a furry four legged friend.
Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos was dog sitting small white dog ‘Scruff’ for a friend who joined the magistrate at the bench.
However, it was not long before Scruff escaped across the court to greet the sheriffs and a defendant for a tail wagging good time.
One of the sheriffs captured the escaped offender and relocated him to the Magistrate’s chambers.
“I need to go and see what Scruff is up to,” Magistrate Kossiavelos said as she retired to her chambers.
It is believed Scruff received a strict talking to however no conviction was recorded for the good boy.
MAN JAILED OVER WILLALOOKA CRASH
A 22-year-old Padthaway man responsible for a crash that killed a Victorian couple at Willalooka has been jailed for up to eight years.
James Paul Bryson appeared in the Adelaide District Court in front of Auxillary Judge Gordon Barrett last Thursday for sentencing after pleading guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
Warrnambool grandparents Deborah Thomson, 65, and Dennis Frazer, 77 died on impact when Mr Bryson collided with the driver’s side of the Ford Territory station wagon driven by Mr Frazer.
Mr Bryson hit the car at 136km after speeding through a give way sign at the intersection of Willalooka Road and the Riddoch Highway at 9.40am on November 18, 2023.
Auxillary Judge Barrett said Mr Bryson’s decision to drive almost four times over the legal blood alcohol limit had “devastating consequences”.
“A combination of data from the utility you were driving and your mobile phone demonstrates that at one stage along Willalooka Road you were travelling at 152kph,” he said.
“At 21 you had lived most of your live in nearby Padthaway or Naracoorte. The area cannot have been unfamiliar with you.
“You committed only one criminal act of driving, but your driving killed two people.”
Mr Bryson was sentenced to a term of imprisonment of eight years, one month and seven days with a non-parole period of six years, five months and 24 days.
His licence will be disqualified for 14 years following his release from prison.