Truckie more concerned about truck than victim after crash

A TRUCK driver who hit two stationary cars, killing a woman and injuring her daughter, appeared more concerned about his truck than his victim, a court has heard.

Leigh Rigutto was driving an 18-tonne semi-trailer when he veered into a bicycle lane, smashing into a parked white Toyota, which cannoned into a stationary red Mazda.

The white car became airborne and its driver Debbie Masliczek suffered life-threatening injuries.

Her mother Lorraine Masliczek, 63, who was in the red car, died in the crash in Melbourne's east in October 2009.

The County Court heard Rigutto was involved in three further collisions after the fatal crash, including one in his truck three months later for which he was convicted.

Today, Rigutto, 30, of South Morang, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and dangerous driving causing serious injury over the Epping crash.

A forensic physician found his driving may have been affected by methadone, cannabis and sedatives.

Prosecutor Amina Bhai said Rigutto failed to drive properly, keep a proper lookout and apply his emergency brakes.

After the crash, witnesses told police he got out of his truck, took a packet of cigarettes and "appeared to be more concerned about his truck as opposed to the dead woman in the red car he was standing next to''.

He told police he went to see if the driver was OK but when she didn't reply, went to check on his truck.

"I just wanted to make sure I could still drive it back to Queensland tomorrow,'' he told them.

Despite the cars being stationary, Rigutto claimed the red car came out of a side street and cut him off, leaving him no choice but to hit it.

He said he did not know anything about the white car.

Debbie Masliczek, 37, suffered life-long injuries, including snapped ribs. She is continually short of breath, cannot sleep lying down and can't have children.

She said the loss of her mother, whom she described as her best friend, was devastating.

"A piece of our heart died along with my mother that day,'' she said.

Ms Masliczek said Rigutto had not shown remorse and instead smirked in court.

"I pray he gets a revelation and realises what he's done instead of laughing at everything,'' she said.

Defence barrister Jason Gullaci said his client accepted responsibility for his actions and that his behaviour after the crash was consistent with shock and panic rather than lack of remorse.

The prosecution wants Rigutto jailed for a maximum three to four-and-a-half years.

The pre-sentence hearing continues on Friday.

news.com.au 6 Jul 2011

The is another example of how the law works to the benefit of the criminal.

One can quite easily kill someone, and be incarcerated for only a few years.

There is no interest for the law makers to change the law, as it is NOT them that is generally effected by these type of crimes, but rather the community at large for which they have little regard for.

Law makers generally are of the opinion that it is to bothersome to change the law, unless there is some monetary reward with the proposed change.

It is common practice for law makers to dismiss many changes, a fact that again is ignored by the mass media.

The law deliberately lets these people out onto the streets to re-offend, so that revenue can be raised if caught for speeding.