Jail for ute death
Teen died as drink-drug mate crashed ute
A MOTHER has told a court in Cairns of the agony of losing her only child.
Benjamin McDougall Wall, 19, of Kewarra Beach, died from severe injuries after being thrown off the back of a ute driven by his mate Thomas Brian Radcliffe.
“There is no one to call me mum ... or grandmother,” Jennifer McDougall said.
“The McDougall family tree has been axed.”
Radcliffe, now 21, was sentenced to three years jail, suspended after eight months.
A COURT heard of a mother’s pain after her only child was killed in a Tablelands ‘circle work’ tragedy last year.
Benjamin McDougall Wall, 19, of Kewarra Beach, was thrown from the back of a ute driven by his mate Thomas Brian Radcliffe when the Pplater performed doughnuts and rolled the vehicle in a field at Barrine in February last year.
Benjamin suffered cata- strophic head injuries and another man was pinned under the wheel arch with a sheared pelvis.
In a statement read to Cairns District Court yesterday, Jennifer McDougall described the heartache she and Benjamin’s father Brian Wall had suffered since his death.
“There is no one to call me mum ... or grandmother,” she said. “The McDougall family tree has been axed.”
Radcliffe, now 21, pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle occasioning death, grievous bodily harm, driving with alcohol in his blood and driving with cannabis in his blood.
The court heard that the Radcliffe had told three friends to dismount the ute when he embarked to collect fire wood on a camping trip at 11pm.
“They said something like ‘she’ll be right or to that effect,” defending solicitor Bebe Mellick said.
Radcliffe then performed doughnuts around a tree 100m from their campsite but rolled when he struck a rut.
“(Benjamin) was a good friend, he has to live with that for the rest of his life,” Mr Mellick said.
Judge Brendan Butler SC said Radcliffe’s actions would have life long consequences.
“It was not just the life of the deceased; you have affected your own life and that of your family,” Judge Butler said.
He sentenced Radcliffe to three years in jail – suspended after eight months for an operational period of three years, – and disqualified him from driving for three years.