2 days ago
Kyaharlem Hazard jailed over Queensland crash that killed Heidi Riding
A man who was on parole when he crashed a stolen car and caused the death of his passenger has been jailed by a Queensland court.
Kyaharlem Hazard, 21, pleaded guilty in Toowoomba District Court on Thursday to one count each of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while excessively speeding and unlawful use of a motor vehicle in the night with company.
Crown prosecutor Hamish McIntyre said Hazard had been driving at speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour "over a substantial period" in Toowoomba when the car veered into a tree on Hursley Road late at night on July 14, 2023.
The court was told several police vehicles were in pursuit of the stolen car at the time.
Mr McIntrye said Hazard's actions led to his 18-year-old passenger, Heidi Riding, being thrown from the vehicle.
The court was told Ms Riding, who died at the scene, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Mr McIntyre said Hazard, who had been on parole for six days, should have been aware that the speed at which he was travelling was dangerous because he had been previously convicted for a similar offences.
At one point, the court heard, CCTV footage showed the car travelling at 121kph.
"It's very serious conduct — it involves a life being lost by someone," Mr McIntyre said.
"Although he was a young man he had an atrocious criminal history, including multiple offences of dangerous driving.
"This man is a danger to the community.
Hazard's lawyer Scott Lynch said his client was remorseful for his actions.
"He's genuinely contrite," Mr Lynch said.
The court was told Hazard had been drug-free for six months and Mr Lynch said he would "not be abusing drugs in the future out of respect for the deceased's family".
But Judge Dennis Lynch KC said that "realisation" had come "a bit late" and that Hazard's conduct had "placed others in grave risk".
"You got out of jail a few days before, you were on parole and you reverted back to the exactly the same conduct that saw you incarcerated for similar offences," he said.
"The conduct involved in the present offences is extremely serious, given you've learned nothing, it would seem, from your earlier incarceration and were deliberately avoiding the police and driving in such a dangerous way.
"But I have no doubt you were genuinely remorseful of your conduct."
Judge Lynch sentenced Hazard to seven years in prison.
Hazard, who has served 399 days in pre-sentence custody, will be eligible for parole in November.
He was also convicted for driving without a licence and his licence was disqualified indefinitely.
