The Northern Territory Court of Criminal Appeal was yet to decide whether to resentence fatal hit and run driver. Jake Danby, after hearing submissions on Thursday. Danby was sentenced to a 12-month intensive community corrections order after hitting two Aboriginal pedestrians with his car in 2024, fleeing the scene and then boasted about it over text. Director of Public Prosecutions filed an appeal on the grounds the sentence was manifestly inadequate.
00:00Three months into a year-long intensive community corrections order, Jake Danby back in the spotlight after the Director of Public Prosecutions filed an appeal arguing the sentence handed to the 24-year-old in September was manifestly inadequate.
00:18Danby pleaded guilty to hit-and-run causing death after he struck two Aboriginal pedestrians with his car outside the Hibiscus Shopping Centre in 2024, fled the scene and then sent a series of texts boasting about his crime, calling the victims dogs and oxygen thieves.
00:36Today, the DPP told the Court of Criminal Appeal the sentence didn't go far enough, the prosecutor arguing the texts should have been viewed as an aggravating factor.
00:46This was in the upper range of objective seriousness for this kind of offending and part of that was the text messages.
00:53They may go to his state of mind and we say that is firstly his rejection of his moral obligation to render assistance and secondly the basis of his rejection was a racist one, at least substantially.
01:06Danby wasn't present at court today, he serving five months home detention as part of his sentence.
01:12The judge who sentenced him, Justice Sonia Brownhill, acknowledged the texts were callous and shocking, but due to his young age, lack of criminal history and strong prospects for rehabilitation, it was decided Danby should serve his time in the community instead of a prison cell.
01:30Today, Defence Barrister John Tippett KC said the punishment was appropriate and warranted public applause.
01:37We don't sentence people on the repugnancy of their ideas, we sentence them on their behaviour that brings them to court.
01:44Mr Tippett said Danby had been tarred and feathered by the public and was the perfect example of someone who would benefit from an alternative to prison.
01:53It's not a lighter option, it's not a lenient option, it's a different option.
01:57The court reserved their decision for a later date, Danby yet to learn whether he will be resentenced.
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