The devastated family of a scooter rider killed when a driver ran a red light in Adelaide has told the man behind the wheel at the time that he can’t be forgiven.
Andrea Farrell’s life was torn apart in February last year when Benjamin Cooper drove straight through an intersection and into a scooter, which was being ridden by her partner of 15 years, Robert Pinto.
The light had been red for 35 seconds at the corner of James Congdon and Sir Donald Bradman Drive, in Mile End, when Cooper – who says he didn’t see it – barrelled through.
Mr Pinto was rushed to hospital but died days later from a traumatic brain injury, as his partner held his hand.
He was just months away from walking his daughter down the aisle in London, when he was killed.
In a pre-sentence hearing, Farrell told the killer driver that his death had left a deep and lonely void in her life, and that she cannot forgive him.
“I can’t forgive you, but I do feel sorry that you have to live with this for the rest of your life,” she said.
Cooper stood and read out an apology saying not a day goes by that he doesn’t think about what happened and that his actions will weigh heavily on him for the rest of his life.
The 43-year-old has pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, but is begging to avoid any jail time.
His lawyer is asking the court to suspend any sentence at his hearing next month.
This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.
