Widow tells of grief

Guilty plea in motorcycle fatality

A GRIEVING woman has told a court she will never be the person she was before her husband was taken away from her.

Larna Fisher lost her husband Dion Hardy, 48, on October 14, 2016, when he was riding home on a motorbike and hit by a car driving on the wrong side of the road.

Kristel Cee-Anne Cowen, 38, of Rosetta, pleaded guilty to Mr Hardy’s manslaughter.

Director of Public Prosecutions Daryl Coates, SC, yesterday told the Supreme Court in Hobart Mr Hardy was riding home to Bridgewater from a friend’s house in North Hobart about 11pm when he was struck by Cowen.

Mr Coates said Cowen was driving a Toyota Corolla and collided with Mr Hardy just north of Elwick Rd on the Brooker Highway.

He said Cowen was driving on the wrong side of the divided highway at 62km/h in an area with a 40km/h speed limit because of roadworks.

Mr Hardy was thrown from the motorcycle and died from injuries Mr Coates said were “almost instantaneously fatal”.

In her victim impact statement Ms Fisher said she went to the scene of the crash with her son.

“I don’t remember too much from the night other than collapsing on the ground when the police told me Dion had been killed,” she said.

“I just wanted to see Dion but no one would let me.”

Ms Fisher said she has not been able to go back to the section of highway where the crash happened.

“I would like to one day place flowers or even a plaque but at this stage I can’t go there.”

She said her husband was one of the most selfless people she knew and “I still can’t get my head around that I’m never going to see Dion again”.

“I’ll never be the same person again as Dion was my life ... I’d do anything to have Dion back in my arms.”

Cowen was hospitalised after the crash with a head injury. She had a blood alcohol reading of more than four times the legal limit. Prescription drugs were also detected and Mr Coates said she would have been significantly affected by the alcohol and drugs and unaware she had entered the wrong side of the highway.

Mr Coates said Cowen had 34 prior convictions for traffic offences, and, when she hit Mr Hardy, she was on bail on two drink driving charges that she later pleaded guilty to.

Cowen’s lawyer, Greg Barns, said the case was “a tragic case in the true sense of the word”.

“My client understands she has caused the family unspeakable pain and hurt ... She herself expresses deep regret and remorse.”

Mr Barns said Cowen had developed an alcohol problem after the death of her partner and the problem escalated after a traumatic experience that happened three weeks before the crash. He said Cowen had good rehabilitation prospects, but once she is released from prison the challenge would be not resorting to alcohol abuse.

Justice Michael Brett remanded Cowen in custody and expects to sentence her in two weeks.