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A drug-affected, unlicensed driver has been sentenced to eight years in prison for a high-speed crash that claimed the life of his teenage passenger and seriously injured the driver of an airport shuttle bus.
Steve Mason Mourish, 20, was driving a stolen car at speeds of about 150 kilometres an hour while trying to evade police in April last year, when he went through a red light on Abernethy Road in Kewdale and slammed into the bus.
He was affected by cannabis at the time and had never held a driver's licence, although he did have a learner's permit.
His 16-year-old passenger, Jack Meier, died later in hospital, while the driver of the bus suffered a range of injuries including three broken ribs and a fractured spine.
Mourish was arrested at the scene and later pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully killing the teenager and dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to the bus driver.
He also pleaded guilty to two home burglaries, including one in which he stole the car he was driving at the time of the crash.
The court previously heard how Mourish, when asked by paramedics at the scene of the crash if he was hurt, replied: "My heart hurts. I'm sorry I killed my brother."
'Heart-wrenching' impact on victim's family
Justice Bruno Fiannaca described Mourish's driving as "frightening" and "appalling", saying he had driven at high speed when his ability to control the car was impaired by drugs.
He described as "heart-wrenching" a victim impact statement provided to the court by Jack Meier's mother, in which she said her family's life was changed forever and "there was nothing anybody could do".
Justice Fiannaca said the effect on the driver of the bus was also "profound", because he described himself as going from someone who was physically fit to someone who could not even walk his dog or do any physical exercise.
He also suffered post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and had vivid memories of being trapped in the bus and the immense pain he suffered, saying in his victim impact statement that "everyday continued to be a struggle".
Mourish lived in 76 foster care homes
Justice Fiannaca accepted that Mourish was remorseful and that he also suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, but said that had been brought about by his own actions.
The court heard Mourish's upbringing was deprived, dysfunctional, chaotic and traumatic, and before he had turned 18, he had gone through 76 different foster care placements.
He also met the criteria for a diagnosis of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, which Justice Fiannaca said was not in the most serious category but may have contributed to Mourish's judgement being impaired.
Mourish will have to serve six years behind bars before he can be released.
With time already served, he will be eligible for parole in April 2023.
Topics: murder-and-manslaughter, accidents---other, police, crime, perth-6000, wa, kewdale-6105
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