Chronic alcoholic Kristie Merrett jailed for five years
Chronic alcoholic Kristie Merrett – who was more than four times over the limit and speeding when she fatally injured a nine-year-old boy – has been jailed for more than five years.
Judge Justin Smith at Gosford District Court said 52-year-old Merrett had a blood alcohol level of more than 0.20 and was driving almost 20mph over the speed limit when she crashed into a car driven by a woman with her son in the back .
After the accident, Merrett asked, “Where am I?” What happened? I need something to drink, I need something to drink.”
She later told police that the other car had come out of nowhere and that she had only had a few drinks the night before after breaking up with her abusive partner, and was surprised to find she was driving over the limit.
Chronic alcoholic Kristie Merrett (pictured) – who was more than four times over the speed limit and speeding when she fatally injured a nine-year-old boy – has been jailed for more than five years
Merrett had drunk a bottle of vodka the night before.
Judge Smith said the boy’s tragic death highlighted the dangers of drink-driving and speeding and he needed to punish Merrett to hold her accountable for her actions and to deter others in the community from doing the same.
“These comments are directed at anyone who thinks it is okay to speed on our roads or otherwise break the rules of the road,” Judge Smith said on Friday.
“Look at this woman. Look at her victims, their families, and think of the years in prison that will result.
“None of you think this will ever be you, but neither does this woman.”
Merrett, from Bellingen, was jailed for five years and five months, with a minimum of three years and six months, after pleading guilty to aggravated dangerous driving causing death, causing grievous bodily harm by misconduct and possession of cannabis.
She had been sober for about a month when she relapsed following the argument with her then partner of 12 years, the court was told.
She decided to drive to the NSW Central Coast to see her mother and “began to feel increasingly dark” during the journey on January 3, 2023.
Merrett bought a bottle of vodka, booked a motel, drank it all and blacked out.
When she woke up the next day, she claimed she felt fine before getting behind the wheel.
Judge Smith said Merrett was traveling at 78km/h in a 50km/h zone when she drove straight through a give way sign at a junction in Killarney Vale and crashed into a Toyota Camry about 12.45pm.
The driver and her son were on their way home from the shops after buying him new school shoes.
The boy, sitting in a booster seat on the left rear passenger side, took the brunt of the impact and became trapped in the wreckage.
The mother was treated at John Hunter Hospital for a broken spine, while the boy was placed in an induced coma after suffering a catastrophic brain injury.
He died three days later.
Merrett, who suffered minor injuries, tried to escape from the hospital before being stopped by police.
The judge said Merrett (pictured) was driving 78km/h in a 50km/h zone when she sped through a give way sign at an intersection and crashed into a Toyota Camry.
“I just want to die, I have nothing left,” she said before pleading with a police officer: “You have a gun, take it out and shoot me now, please.”
Judge Smith said a psychological report showed Merrett’s traumatic childhood had had a lifelong impact and caused her alcohol addiction.
The report indicated that Merrett had a long-term depressive disorder, an anxiety disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder that would have been present since her early adolescence.
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