Commissioner speaks out after son's killer avoids jail
Police Commissioner Grant Stevens has shared an emotional statement outside of court after the young man accused of killing his son had his sentence suspended.
Dhirren Randhawa, 19, was sentenced at Adelaide District Court to 13 months in prison for driving without due care and leaving the scene of an accident after crashing into 18-year-old Charlie Stevens in 2023.
Charlie was celebrating schoolies with his friends, before being struck and suffering irreversible brain damage, as he died in hospital just days later.
Judge Joanne Tracey suspended the sentence with a two-year good behaviour bond and a 10-year suspension of his license, citing many reasons why he should not be placed behind bars.
Justice Tracey said Randhawa’s youth, lack of prior offending, the circumstances of the offending, his genuine remorse and his guilty pleas were all factors in her decision.
“You have accepted there was more you could have done to avoid this tragic outcome,” she said on Tuesday. “It is, of course, the case you had no intention to harm anyone that night."
“It is an offence any one of us as road users may commit if we do not take proper care or drive without proper attention.”
Speaking after the sentence, Commissioner Stevens he and his family were “grateful” the court process had finished.
“The judge said in summing up today … no matter what happens in the courtroom today, it’s not going to change anything for our family, and I think that’s a very true statement,” he said alongside his wife Emma.
“We’re grateful this part of the entire process is over. Each court date that has come up has been difficult, stressful and emotional for our family."
“We’re grateful Dhirren chose to plead guilty to his offence because that brought this part of it to a conclusion much more quickly."
“It is one of those things, we are continuing to learn how to live with every single day without Charlie. It’s not getting any easier, as I’m sure people who have lost a child would appreciate."
“We’re very grateful for the support and the sympathy we’ve received from the South Australian community … there’s no way we can acknowledge or repay that in any other format other than thanking people for their support.”
Image credits: SA Police / Facebook