Arabic version: عائلة تدعو إلى عقوبات أشد بعد حادث دهس مميت لطفل مراهق
The family of Bryson Dimovski, a 14-year-old boy killed in a hit-and-run incident in Lake Macquarie, is urging the New South Wales government to reform the justice system they believe failed their son. Their online petition, which calls for harsher penalties for drivers who flee fatal accidents, has garnered over 20,000 signatures. According to ABC News, the petition will be tabled and debated in parliament in August.
Bryson was struck by a distracted driver while riding his e-scooter in the Lake Macquarie suburb of Warners Bay in July 2023. The impact was severe, throwing him over the bonnet of the vehicle and down an embankment, where his body was discovered six hours later. The driver, Jaycob Gemza, initially pleaded guilty to failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death but later changed his plea to guilty on all charges, receiving a maximum sentence of five years in jail. The Dimovski family argues that this sentence is insufficient.
Andrew Dimovski, Bryson’s father, expressed his disappointment with the judicial outcome, stating, “This system we put our faith in, never met us where we stand.” The family has taken action to advocate for change, emphasizing the need for stricter laws regarding hit-and-run incidents. They believe that the current legal treatment of such cases is too lenient.
The petition, titled ‘Reform Laws for Drivers Who Flee Fatal Crash Scenes’, seeks to impose increased penalties for those who leave the scene of a fatal accident and for those who refuse breath tests. It also calls for eliminating the option for offenders to serve their sentences in the community instead of prison. The Dimovski family hopes that their efforts will prompt the government to listen and take action.
Roxanne Arnold, director of the Road Trauma Support Group, highlighted the significance of campaigns like the Dimovski’s petition in driving legislative change. Arnold, who lost her husband to a drunk driver, emphasized the importance of sharing personal stories to raise awareness and encourage lawmakers to make necessary reforms.
