Court rejects appeal to increase sentence of killer driver

Judges have dismissed a prosecution appeal to increase the jail term for a driver who killed five people in a horrific crash in Northern Victoria in 2023. Christopher Dillon Joannidis, 32, was sentenced last year to a minimum of three years and a maximum of five years for dangerous driving causing death.

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justice was not served

The Office of Prosecutions argued for an increased sentence, telling the Court of Appeal that the original sentence was "manifestly unjust." The appeal was dismissed, and the court's written judgment is pending.

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trying not to feel defeated

Among the victims were Debbie Markey, 62, and four overseas workers from Hong Kong and Taiwan: Pin-Yu Wang, Hsin-Yu Chen, Wai-Yan Lam, and Zih-Yao Chen. They were killed when Joannidis drove through the intersection of the Murray Valley Highway and Laubuan Road, hitting a ute and sending it into the path of a milk tanker.

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[It] really has taken a massive impact on my life and my family's, and today was just not the outcome that we wanted

Daniel Montero, the son of Debbie Markey, expressed his disappointment outside the court. "Justice was not served" for his family and the family of Andrew McCluskey, the milk tanker driver. He described the outcome as "absolutely insane" and stated that the driver "killed five people." Montero added that he needs to "try and move on with my life and try and keep myself with my head held high because that's what my mum would want."

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absolutely insane