Father calls on police to get justice for son

A FAMILY’s plea to appeal the “soft sentence” given to the drugged-up driver who mowed down their teenage son appears to have fallen on deaf ears.

Robert Thomas Summerville walked from court last week with a $500 fine and onemonth driving disqualification after he crashed into the boy at Burleigh Waters on June 6, 2019.

A Southport Magistrates Court was told last week that Summerville was high, driving disqualified and fled the scene after the crash.

But the Queensland Police Service yesterday effectively ruled out appealing the sentence, despite pressure from a Gold Coast MP, Opposition and the devastated family.

“A review of the matter and consideration of the evidence before the court has determined the sentence was within range,” a spokeswoman said.

On Wednesday last week, Summerville pleaded guilty to drug driving, driving an unregistered vehicle and failing to comply with duties of a driver involved in a crash.

The parents of the boy, who now suffers from a permanent brain injury, last week labelled the penalty a “kick in the guts” and were again yesterday.

The boy’s father asked “what sort of precedent” was the “slap on the wrist” sentence setting.

“We believe there is sufficient evidence and grounds to appeal this decision, and so left disappointed do the politicians. Everyone’s in disbelief that you can get more for a mobile phone charge – a $1000 fine and four points – then you can get for hitting someone driving under the influence.

“There’s no balance in the system, either the law has got to change or something has to happen.”

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor was shocked yesterday at the police response.

“It’s just extraordinary, it (the sentence) does not meet community expectation at all,” he said.

He’s hopeful the Queensland Police Service would reconsider.

Mr O’Connor called for an appeal to fix the injustice in parliament on Thursday night.

“I call on the Queensland Police Service to initiate an appeal,” he said. “All the (family) wants is for the punishment to fit the crime. They deserve justice for everything their son has lost.”

THERE’S NO BALANCE IN THE SYSTEM, EITHER THE LAW HAS GOT TO CHANGE OR SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN

FATHER OF INJURED TEEN