Update 4.20pm:
Taylor Rebecca Angell, 20, has received a non-parole jail sentence of three years and three months for causing the death of Marc Leabeater in a road crash at Caringbah six days before Christmas 2014 while under the influence of the drug "ice".
The sentence was backdated to April 25 this year when her bail was revoked after a second accident, in which Angell drove into the back of a car stopped at a red traffic light while she was again affected by "ice" and other drugs.
Judge Helen Syme in Downing Centre District Court said the circumstances of both matters were "chillingly similar".
Angell will be eligible for release on July 24, 2018. Her total sentence, including a period in which she will be on parole, will be five years and seven months.
A 25 per cent discount was applied for her early plea.
Angell showed no emotion and replied "yep" when asked whether she understood the sentence.
The judge said if Angell could remain drug-free she had good prospects of rehabilitation.
Judge Syme said Angell and Marc Leabeater couldn't have come from more different backgrounds.
Judge Syme said Angell came from a dysfunctional family, where both her parents were heavy drug users.
They had separated when she was young and her mother, who introduced her to drugs, had since been jailed for a lengthy period.
Angell had lived for periods with her grandmother and a foster family.
Judge Syme said, in contrast, Mr Leabeater had a very supportive and loving family, who had helped him to achieve.
PARENTS 'RELIEVED'
Tania Leabeater said she was ‘‘relieved’’ and ‘‘reasonably happy’’ with the sentence.
Larry Leabeater said there were ‘‘no winners’’.
He appealed to people who were considering using ice or similar mind-altering drugs, to think very seriously before doing so.
‘‘Is a temporary high really worth the risk of harming yourself, your loved ones or innocent bystanders?'' he said.
VICTIM IMPACT STATEMENT
In her victim impact statement, Tania Leabeater said the pain of losing her eldest son in such circumstances only got worse.
‘‘I don't think I will ever forget that terrible night last December,’’ she said.
‘‘The difficulty of having to tell Marc's brothers, Scott and Adam, that Marc had died is beyond words.’’
Mrs Leabeater said it was even harder to tell her parents, who had loved their eldest grandson so much and were very proud of him.
‘‘At the burial site, I can still see the distressed faces of those who gathered,’’ she said.
‘‘I remember the sadness mixed with utter disbelief at what had happened to Marc.’’
Mrs Leabeater said the day Marc was born, her life changed forever.
‘‘Marc's spirit, energy and strength have made an important contribution to making me the person I am today,'' she said.
‘‘Since he's been gone, I have at times asked myself, 'what now?' Mrs Leabeater said she and her son had ‘‘an exceptionally strong bond''.
‘‘Apart from sadness, I feel very cheated that I will miss out sharing Marc's future with him,'' she said.
‘‘I will miss out on him achieving even more and realising his potential.
‘‘I no longer have the opportunity to see him progress in his career, possibly get married and have children of his own.
‘‘Now, news of engagements, weddings and babies among his friends generates mixed feelings, knowing that Marc will never experience these precious moments himself.
‘‘Above all else, I miss Marc terribly. I miss him more a time passes.
‘‘There have been many gatherings in Marc's honour, even awards given in his name.
‘‘It has been very rewarding to see how so many people miss Marc and want to ensure he is remembered and honoured.
‘‘However, none of this can ever compare to having him with us.’’
Earlier Friday:
The driver of the car in the accident which claimed the life of Cronulla lawyer, surf lifesaver and footballer Marc Leabeater In December last year was affected by the drug ice at the time.
Downing Centre District Court heard Taylor Rebecca Angell, 20, had been a user of Crystal Meth since the age of 14, and blamed her habit on problems associated with her upbringing.
The court was told Angell took the drug more heavily after the fatal accident and was affected by it and another drug when police stopped her for further traffic offences four months later, leading to her bail being revoked.
The further offences resulted in charges of giving a false name or home address, negligent driving, driving a motor vehicle with a suspended licence and driving a vehicle with illicit drug present in blood.
Angell appeared for sentencing on Friday after pleading guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death.
After hearing victim impact statements from Mr Leabeater’s parents Tania and Larry, further evidence and submissions from counsel, Judge Helen Syme retired to consider the sentence, which may be delivered this afternoon.
The court heard, while in jail, Angell had twice not provided urine samples for drug tests.
Angell told the court she had not taken drugs since being in jail, had not been offered them and said ‘‘stage fright’’ was the reason she had been unable to provide urine samples while being watched by prison officers.
Public defender Angus Webb said his client expected a lengthy jail sentence, but she had accepted responsibility for causing Mr Leabeater’s death and had expressed remorse in letters which were made available to Mr Leabeater’s parents if they wanted to read them.
The court heard Angell was driving on Taren Point Road from Caringbah to her boyfriend’s home on the other side of Captain Cook Bridge when the crash occurred at 10.35pm on Friday, December 19.
She decided to go to the McDonald’s restaurant and, in turning right, her car hit the south-bound motor cycle being ridden by Mr Leabeater, 26, who was just minutes from his Cronulla home.
Mr Leabeater worked as a solicitor for a city firm and was an outstanding surf lifesaving beach sprinter, who had played in the Cronulla Sharks under 20s and under 18s representative teams and had a brief stint in the Southern Districts rugby first grade side.
