A “shattered young man” will return home to Italy after an Adelaide judge suspended a prison term imposed over a crash that cost the lives of three members of the same family.
In the SA District Court on Friday, Gabriele Cairo, 29, put his face in his hands and wept as Judge Paul Muscat told him he would suspend a three-and-a-half year sentence over the crash at Everard Central, in SA’s Mid North, on October 31, 2023.
Jacqueline Clark, 54, was driving her parents John Clark, 86, and Cynthia Clark, 84, to their home in Clare when Cairo failed to give way and his campervan struck their vehicle.
All three died from their injuries, while Cairo’s wife, Elena Perrone, has since recovered from critical injuries.
Cairo previously pleaded guilty to three counts of cause death by dangerous driving and one count of causing serious harm by dangerous driving.
Through an interpreter, Judge Muscat told Cairo it was clear that he was a man of exceptional character and qualities and also a “shattered young man going through a very difficult time”.
“Your decency as a human being cannot be challenged … I accept that you are a kind, compassionate, thoughtful, hard-working young man who is full of sadness and remorse,” he said.
A sad fact of this “terrible collision” was that it occurred only months after the happiest day of Cairo’s life, when he married a loving wife, he said.
“You have undoubtedly fallen into a deep depression following the realisation of the enormity of the consequences of the collision you caused,” he said.
Judge Muscat said Cairo would not have to serve the prison sentence, or a 21-month non-parole period, but would be disqualified from driving for 15 years.
“I am satisfied, based on the combination of the moral culpability involved in the incident of dangerous driving itself and your character and personal circumstances, that good reason exists to suspend the sentence,” he said.
“You have apologised to the surviving son of the Clark family. As you wrote, you wish that you could go back in time to do things differently.”
Judge Muscat echoed the hopes of Cairo’s wife that he could one day forgive himself.
Poor signage at the intersection had since been improved.
Outside court, Ms Perrone said the couple was relieved the matter had concluded.
“We’re just grateful this is all over and we’re glad we get to go home as soon as possible,” she said.
“I’ve said to (the Clark family) what I needed to, we talked and they understood, they forgave us.”
Outside court, Clark family spokesperson Jon Reinke said there was “no point in having a vendetta” against Cairo
“I feel sorry for him and his wife … we wish them all the best in their return to Italy,” he said.
