Chronic alcoholic Kristie Merrett, who was more than four times the limit and speeding when she fatally injured a nine-year-old boy, has been jailed for more than five years.
Gosford District Court Judge Justin Smith said Merrett, 52, had a blood alcohol level above 0.20 and was driving almost 30km/h over the speed limit when he crashed into a car driven by a woman with her son in the back.
After the accident, Merrett asked, ‘Where am I? What happened? I need a drink, I need a drink.
She later told police the other car had come out of nowhere and she had only had a few drinks the night before after breaking up with her abusive partner and was surprised she was over the limit.
Chronic alcoholic Kristie Merrett (pictured), who was more than four times the limit and speeding when she fatally injured a nine-year-old boy, has been jailed for more than five years.
In fact, Merrett had drunk a bottle of vodka the night before.
Judge Smith said the boy’s tragic death highlighted the dangers of drink-driving and speeding and that he had to punish Merrett to hold her accountable for her actions and try to deter others in the community from do the same.
“These comments are directed at anyone who thinks it is okay to speed on our roads or disobey the rules of the road,” Judge Smith said on Friday.
‘Take a look at this woman. Look at your victims, at their families, and think of the years of prison that will result.
“None of you believe this will ever be you, but neither does this woman.”
Merrett, from Bellingen, was sentenced to five years and five months in prison with a minimum of three years and six months after pleading guilty to aggravated dangerous driving causing death, causing grievous bodily harm by misconduct and possession of cannabis.
She had been sober for about a month when she relapsed after the argument with her then partner of 12 years, the court was told.
She decided to drive to the New South Wales Central Coast to see her mother and “started to feel increasingly dark” during the trip on January 3, 2023.
Merrett bought a bottle of vodka, moved into a motel, drank it all, and passed out.
When he woke up the next day, he said he felt fine before getting behind the wheel.
Judge Smith said Merrett was driving at 78km/h in a 50km/h zone when he accelerated straight through a give way sign at an intersection in Killarney Vale about 12.45pm and collided with a Toyota. Camry.
The driver and her son were returning home from the stores after buying him new shoes for school.
The child was in a booster seat on the rear left passenger side, which took the brunt of the impact and was trapped in the debris.
The mother was treated at John Hunter Hospital for a spinal fracture, while the child was placed in an induced coma after suffering a catastrophic brain injury.
He died three days later.
Merrett, who suffered minor injuries, attempted to escape from the hospital before being restrained by police.
The judge said Merrett (pictured) was driving 78 km/h in a 50 km/h zone when he accelerated straight through a yield sign at an intersection and crashed into a Toyota Camry.
“I just want to die, I have nothing left,” he said before begging a police officer “you have a gun, take it out and shoot me now, please.”
Judge Smith said a psychological report revealed Merrett’s traumatic childhood had had a lifelong impact and caused his addiction to alcohol.
The report indicated that Merrett had long-standing major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder that would have been present since his early adolescence.
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