P-plater jailed for three years over North Lake crash that killed Nick Campo
The teenager who was behind the wheel of a modified car that was speeding when it crashed in North Lake last year, killing an 18-year-old aspiring football player, has been jailed for three years and two months.
Nick Campo had just left his 18th birthday party in North Coogee last July when he and a group of friends got into a dangerously modified Hilux driven by a 17-year-old P-plate driver who travelled at high-speed and ignored traffic signs in a bid to get to a Leederville nightclub before lockout.
Campo died when the ute left Farringdon Road in North Lake and mounted a curb before colliding with an oncoming Jeep.
Three other young passengers also suffered catastrophic injuries.
The driver – who cannot be named due to his age – was sentenced on Wednesday, with Judge Hylton Quail telling the court it was not just the teenager who was responsible for the crash.
Quail said that after hearing evidence given by the other passengers, police, and witnesses from the party, he was satisfied the group was encouraging the driver to speed.
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9 News
2 days ago
- 9 News
Promising footy player's emotional mum says killer driver's sentence not enough
Your web browser is no longer supported. To improve your experience update it here West Australian teen Nick Campo's mother is disappointed her son's killer driver has been sentenced to just three years and two months behind bars. A judge today found the 17-year-old driver, who can't be named, was encouraged to speed by his passengers, saying they were all morally responsible for the tragedy. Nick had just made it to adulthood but a high-speed crash while celebrating his 18th birthday ended it all. A teenager who was behind the wheel of a car in a crash that killed talented footballer Nick Campo in Perth has had his charges upgraded. (9News) Bianca Campo says the sentence for the driver convicted of the manslaughter of her son, Nick Campo, isn't enough (9News) "Nick was a really good kid and he was very much loved by all of us," mother Bianca Campo said, outside court. Nick and some mates were catching a lift to a nightclub when the ute they were in collided with a Jeep in North Lake last July. The promising footy player was killed instantly and three other passengers were seriously injured. "It's something we have to live with everyday for the rest of our lives," Bianca said. "We've been quite broken." The 17-year-old driver was today jailed for two years and seven months for Nick's manslaughter, plus an extra eight-month term for the combined dangerous driving charges. With time served, he could walk free as early as mid next year. Promising footy player Nick Campo was killed instantly and three other passengers were seriously injured. (9News) "We don't feel it was enough and I really don't think it sets a good example for young people," Bianca said There were five boys in the Toyota Hilux and four of them, including the driver, had snorted cocaine. The judge also found the P-plater was being encouraged to drive recklessly, racing to beat the club's midnight lockout. His ute had been dangerously modified, with the front passenger seat facing backwards, and only two seat belts, including his own, working. There were five boys in the Toyota Hilux and four of them, including the driver, had snorted cocaine. (9News) "Please just make sure your kids know to do the right thing when they get into cars because this is like a pain that's unbearable, it really is," Nick's mum said. Children's Court president Hylton Quail said although the legal consequences fell on the driver alone, the moral responsibility of the tragedy was shared by everyone who got in the car. "As his honour described in the sentencing, there are no winners here," defence counsel Michael Tudori said. Nick's parents are now on a mission to educate young drivers in their boy's honour. "It's something no one could understand until you've had to live it and I really feel for people who have to go through this," Bianca said. courts teenagers crime car crashes Perth Western Australia sport CONTACT US Property News: The last inner Sydney suburbs where houses cost under $2m.
7NEWS
2 days ago
- 7NEWS
P-plate driver sentenced over crash that killed Nick Campo in North Lake, Perth
A teenager who admitted causing the crash that killed young footballer Nick Campo during his birthday celebrations has been sentenced over the tragedy. On Wednesday, the P-plate motorist — who is now 18 but cannot be named because he was 17 at the time of the offence — was sentenced to three years and two months behind bars. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Driver sentenced over crash that killed Nick Campo. He will be eligible for parole in 19 months. There was an outpouring of emotion as the sentence was handed down. Outside the District Court in Perth, Campo's mother said she was 'quite disappointed' with the sentence. 'We don't feel that it was enough and I really don't think it sets a very good example for young people,' she said. 'No sentence obviously will bring our Nick back. It's something that we have to live with every day for the rest of our lives. 'We've been quite broken by that. Nick was a really good kid and he was very much loved by all of us.' The teen driver's defence lawyer, Michael Tudori, said: 'My client is incredibly remorseful for what he's done.' Campo died on the night of his 18th birthday party in July 2024. He was a passenger in a Toyota Hilux that rolled and collided with another car on Farrington Rd in North Lake, in Perth's southern suburbs. Several other teenagers in the car were seriously injured. They had been on their way to night spot Leederville when the driver lost control. The sentencing attracted such attention it was moved from the Perth Children's Court to the bigger District Court. The driver pleaded guilty to manslaughter and five dangerous driving charges in March. He has been behind bars since November after surrendering his bail in what was described as a demonstration of his remorse. Campo's death came during the deadliest year on WA roads since 2016 and was among the tragedies to prompt change to the state's driving laws. Red provisional-plate drivers are now restricted to carrying just one passenger in their car. Campo's parents have also become road safety advocates, urging people to 'call out' young drivers who are careless while behind the wheel. Campo's father Daniel was also invited to a road safety summit involving the premier, WA's police commissioner, first responders, truck drivers and crash victims last year. Nick Campo was an aspiring footballer who played for the South Fremantle Football Club's colts side. 'Nick was a bright young man with true talent and a love for football,' the club said in the days after the crash. 'He came through our talent pathway and played colts at South Fremantle for the past two years. 'His loss has been felt heavily across the football, cricket, and wider WA communities.'
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Nick Campo's mum ‘disappointed' as driver jailed for 3 years
The teen behind the wheel in the horror crash that killed young footballer Nick Campo has learned his fate, with the judge saying the circumstances made the tragedy 'all but inevitable'. Mr Campo had just had his 18th birthday party and was on his way to a Leederville nightclub with four friends when the driver lost control of his Toyota Hilux in North Lake just before midnight on July 13, 2024. The driver, who cannot be identified because he was 17 at the time, was handed a jail term of three years and two months on Wednesday. A recent trial of issues was told the now 18-year-old and three passengers had taken cocaine, and were racing to beat the nightclub's lock-out time. The driver reached 133km/h on North Lake Road and was seen driving through a red light before the tragedy unfolded. The driver had made extensive illegal modifications to his car, including unbolting the front passenger seat and rotating 180 degrees so it faced the rear passenger seat because 'he thought it looked cool'. Three of the passengers were not wearing seatbelts, with two found to be inaccessible, and the vehicle's front suspension stabiliser bar, which reduces roll when turning, was missing. The driver pleaded guilty to all six serious charges against him, including manslaughter. He will be eligible for parole after serving 19 months and has been behind bars since November, when he surrendered his bail. Outside court, Mr Campo's devastated mother Bianca Campo said the 'broken' family was disappointed with the sentence. Outside court, Mr Campo's devastated mother Bianca Campo said the 'broken' family was disappointed with the sentence. Credit: Justin Benson-Cooper / The West Australian 'We don't feel that it is enough and I really don't think it sets a very good example for young people,' she told reporters. 'Nick was a really good kid and he was very much loved by all of us. 'Please, just please, just make sure your kids, they know to do the right thing when they get into cars, because this is like a pain that's unbearable.' READ THE FULL STORY ON
