Vic: Jail for drunk, drugged driver who killed cyclist

AAP General News (Australia)
12-14-2009
Vic: Jail for drunk, drugged driver who killed cyclist

By Daniel Fogarty

MELBOURNE, Dec 14 AAP - A drunk, drugged and speeding motorist who killed a cyclist
last Christmas Eve while driving to buy more drugs has been jailed for 13 years.

Luke Adam Shields, 32, of Mentone, was at least four times over the blood-alcohol limit
when he crashed into brothers Sean and Alun (Alun) Brindle, who were cycling along Beach
Road in the Melbourne suburb of Mentone.

Trainee ambulance paramedic Sean Brindle, 35, who was visiting Melbourne from Perth
to spend Christmas with family, suffered severe brain injuries and died three days later
in hospital, the Victorian County Court heard on Monday.

His wife of seven months was nine weeks' pregnant at the time and has since given birth
to a daughter.

Alun Brindle, 33, suffered severe head and leg injuries and spent two weeks in a coma.

It is uncertain whether Alun Brindle, a highly regarded Royal Australian Navy lieutenant,
will ever be able to return to full duties, the court heard.

The brothers, both keen cyclists, were riding together for the first time in 12 months.

They were riding in single file along the road which is popular with cyclists.

Shields and his girlfriend had consumed four bottles of wine and he had taken LSD.

He had a blood alcohol concentration of .221 and was travelling at a minimum of 77km/h
in a 60km/h zone when he hit the pair.

Sean Brindle was thrown 51 metres and his brother 68 metres.

The court heard Shields had a history of drug abuse and prior convictions for drink driving.

He has also been convicted of driving over the speed limit on Beach Road.

Judge Tony Duckett described the offending as serious.

"Your offending in relation to the culpable driving count is high on the calendar of
criminality for such an offence," he said.

Shields, who pleaded guilty to culpable driving and negligently causing serious injury,
must serve a minimum of 10 years jail before being eligible for parole.

He is also disqualified from driving for two years after his release.

AAP df/pmu/jlw/cdh

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