No tolerance for drink driver

A Bunbury magistrate has warned that drink driving would not be tolerated while imposing a 15-month jail term on a 41-year-old man who hit and killed a Busselton man while driving three times over the legal limit.

The Bunbury Magistrate’s Court was told on Friday that David Posthuma’s family did not blame Darryl Craig Hall for the death of their loved one, but Magistrate Michelle Pontifex said an immediate jail term was the only option.

Mr Posthuma, 40, was killed after being hit by Hall’s vehicle on the Busselton Bypass last year about 2am.

Defence lawyer Michael Devlin urged Ms Pontifex to suspend the prison term, but she said the community expected drink drivers to be dealt with by the full extent of the law.

‘‘I am aware there has been a concerted effort for some time to educate the community about the dangers of drinking and driving,’’ Ms Pontifex said.

‘‘There is a community expectation that therewill be significant consequences.’’

Ms Pontifex accepted that Hall had remorse for hitting and killing Mr Posthuma and he had suffered a bout of severe depression since the July 18 incident last year and was now on antidepressants.

She accepted Hall was regarded as a ‘‘family man’’ and was seen as a hardworking gentleman by colleagues and family members, but she said it was Hall’s choice to drive that night after consuming ‘‘a significant amount of alcohol’’.

‘‘You chose to drive that night knowing you consumed alcohol and you would have known that your ability to drive would be impaired,’’ she told Hall.

Hall’s wife, Narelle, and son, Brendan, shed tears while Hall was sentenced and lead from the dock.

They later emerged from the court hand in hand, exposing Brendan’s recent tattoo on his forearm of the word ‘‘Dad’’.

Hall was convicted of occasioning death by driving under the influence of alcohol, otherwise known as Jess’ law, and sentenced to 15 months jail and had his licence disqualified for two years.

He also was also fined $1400 for driving under the influence of alcohol and had his licence disqualified for one year.

Hall will be eligible for parole.