Premier demands justice

Puneet ‘must face music’

VICTORIA’S Premier says a “cowardly” driver who fled to India to escape sentencing over a drunken 2008 crash that killed a Gold Coast student should return and face justice.

Daniel Andrews will raise the case of Puneet Puneet with Indian officials when he travels to the country this month.

“The fact that he, in a cowardly act, scarpered, ran away from facing the consequences of his actions, speaks volumes for his character,” Mr Andrews said yesterday. “Everybody across Victoria would be pleased to see him sent back to do the jail time that he should do right here.”

Puneet was a 19-year-old learner driver when he hit and killed Gold Coast nursing student Dean Hofstee, 19, and seriously injured Clancy Coker, 20, in Melbourne in October 2008.

He was on bail and awaiting sentence after pleading guilty to culpable driving when he fled Australia in 2009 using a friend’s passport and hid for more than four years until his capture.

At court in Delhi, where he is fighting extradition, Puneet has pleaded for forgiveness from the families of Mr Hofstee and Mr Coker.

“He might be in a much stronger position asking for forgiveness if he fronted up here and does the time that he should,” Mr Andrews said.

Police estimate Puneet was drunk and driving at more than double the posted limit when he crashed into Mr Hofstee and Mr Coker.

Mr Hofstee was 19 and attending the Australian University Games in Melbourne that October when he was killed instantly when hit by the car.

Mr Hofstee’s father Peter told the Bulletin in 2015 he wanted to see justice. “He has to accept his responsibilities. I want to see him brought back (here) and the matter sorted.”

Evidence presented to Australian courts alleged Puneet was travelling more than 150km/h in a 60km/h zone when he exited a tunnel and hit a traffic light before crashing into Mr Hofstee and Mr Coker.

Puneet, a cookery student, was on a learner’s permit, had been in Australia for 18 months on a visa and at first told police he lost control of the vehicle when a cat ran across the road.

In February 2009 he pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing Mr Hofstee’s death and negligent driving causing serious injuries to Mr Coker.

The Patiala District Court is deciding whether more witnesses should give evidence in Puneet’s fight against extradition. The matter will resume on February 2. Puneet has claimed he is gravely ill, and that Australians are racist and he will be treated like a terrorist if forced to return.