After ramming and fracturing the leg of a Victorian police officer while under the influence of narcotics, a young driver managed to avoid going to jail.
After being found guilty of negligently inflicting serious injury by a County Court jury, Benjamin Saurini, 22, received a two-year community corrections order.
Because his automobile windows were so obscured by cannabis smoke, Saurini admitted in court that he didn’t notice the officer standing in front of it.
The court was informed that in July 2019, Saurini and two of his companions were consuming marijuana while parked on the shoulder of Reservoir Road in Melbourne’s Sunbury neighborhood.
According to ABC News, the jury was informed that the road was dark since there was no street lighting.
Senior Constable Rohan Brown approached Saurini’s car after spotting it parked, the court was informed.
Saurini panicked and sped off, hitting and pinning Senior Constable Brown against his car as the officer and his partner exited their vehicle.
According to 9News Melbourne, the Senior Constable shattered his leg and then developed an infection in that leg, which nearly claimed his life.
Saurini was found guilty of negligently inflicting significant injury despite being cleared of the most serious allegations.
For the following two years, he was not permitted to drive.
He was required to put in 200 hours of unpaid labor, according to Judge Peter Wischusen.
Saurini received a warning from the judge that violating the conditions of his community order would result in jail time.