Broome man who drove over partner while drunk sentenced to five years in prison
Linton Patrick Sampi walks into Broome District Court for sentencing. (ABC Kimberley: Dunja Karagic)
In short:
Linton Patrick Sampi, 44, has been sentenced to five years in jail for dangerous driving causing death.
In 2022, Sampi ran over his partner on their driveway in northern Western Australia, where she sustained serious head and leg injuries and died a short time later.
What's next?
Sampi will be eligible for parole, and will have a licence disqualification imposed for four years following his release.
A West Australian man who ran over his partner in the driveway of their home, causing her death in 2022, has been sentenced to five years in prison in the WA Supreme Court at Broome.
Linton Patrick Sampi, 44, was found not guilty of manslaughter but guilty of the lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death by a jury in September.
During the trial, the court heard Sampi was "severely" drunk when he drove over his partner, who the ABC has chosen not to name for cultural reasons, in the early hours of March 17, 2022.
A jury found Sampi guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of his partner in 2022. (ABC Kimberley: Dunja Karagic )
In sentencing remarks on Friday, Justice Joseph McGrath said after she was struck, the woman was dragged for about 21 metres in the driveway and died as a result of her injuries.
The pair's two young children, who were at the residence when the incident occurred, supplied evidence to the trial, but it was argued their testimonies were unreliable due to "trauma" and the passage of time.
Justice McGrath acknowledged they "tried hard" to give "honest evidence", and accepted certain parts of their testimony, including that Sampi was "angry" and "shouting at" the deceased outside the residence prior to the incident.
'A wonderful mother'
On Friday during sentencing, the court heard a victim impact statement from the mother of the deceased, in which she described the victim as a "wonderful mother" to seven children.
"Amongst every moment of happiness, there is a sadness because my daughter is not here," the statement read.
"The lives of seven beautiful children have been ruined."
In sentencing, Justice McGrath described Sampi's offending as "very serious" and acknowledged the victim's family's "enormous" grief.
Sampi's hearing was held at the Broome courthouse. (ABC News: Andrew Seabourne)
"For the family and loved ones, nothing that I do today will alleviate the ongoing pain and distress," he said.
Justice McGrath accepted Sampi did not intend to hurt the woman and her death was attributable to him being "heavily intoxicated" and therefore incapable of proper control of the vehicle.
'Deep-seated' remorse
State prosecutor Tracy Tan raised Sampi's criminal history, which involved multiple instances of driving under the influence of alcohol, dating back decades.
In sentencing, Justice McGrath said Sampi had a "long entrenched propensity" for driving cars while intoxicated, but acknowledged he had never been to jail and accepted he had "reasonable prospects for rehabilitation".
Aboriginal Legal Service defence counsel Clare Brennan told the court of her client's shame and "deep-seated" and "genuine" remorse.
Clare Brennan told the court on Friday Sampi had "deep-seated" remorse for his actions. (ABC Kimberley: Dunja Karagic)
"The ripple effects of an event like this resonate among the whole community," she said.
Justice McGrath accepted Sampi was "genuinely and deeply sorry for what happened" and took into account his background "characterised by dysfunctional disadvantage".
"The curse of alcohol use has become a problem in your life," he said.
"Your mother and father were not there ... and had alcohol problems."
Sampi will be eligible for parole in three years and will also have a licence disqualification imposed for four years after his release from prison.