The family of a pregnant couple killed by a teenager high on drugs and booze has spoken up about their grief.
On Australia Day in 2021, Matthew Field, 37, and Kate Leadbetter, 31, who was six months pregnant, were walking their dogs in Alexandra Hills, southeast of Brisbane, when they were hit.
Because he was a child, the now 18-year-old driver stole a white Landcruiser four-wheel-drive and blew a red light before colliding with a tow truck, rolling, and plowing into the couple.
He then attempted to flee the scene, but was apprehended by a passer-by and held until police came.
Police had previously charged the youngster with two counts of murder, with a third charge being considered for the couple’s newborn baby Miles.
The driver, however, had pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter earlier this year, according to Queensland’s Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The relatives of Ms Leadbetter and Mr Field attended in court, and they read terrible victim impact statements about how the tragedy has touched every aspect of their life.
Ms Leadbetter’s mother, Jeannie Thorne, said she felt lost without her daughter.
‘I should be holding her baby son in my other life, the one that’s been snatched away from me, the one of a mother and grandma,’ Ms Thorne added, according to the ABC.
John Leadbetter stated that he would never be able to move on properly and would gladly switch places with his daughter.
Mr Field’s father Russel said he felt ‘the happy times are gone forever’ as he struggled to even enjoy memories of his son.
He also told the teenager, who was in court as the statements were read, that he showed a ‘disregard for life’ and that fleeing the scene was the ‘lowest of low’ acts.
Ann Field said her son and Ms Leadbetter were extremely happy and that she now felt paralysed.
‘They had a beautiful life together and they were bringing a beautiful life into this world,’ Mrs Field said.
The kid pleaded guilty to a slew of other crimes, including improper use of a motor vehicle, dangerous driving while under the influence, and driving without a license, in addition to the two manslaughter charges.
The stolen car was seen veering close to and even colliding with other vehicles, crossing the median strip, and traveling at speeds of above 100 km/h in a 50 km/h zone.
On Wednesday, the driver will be sentenced.