Canberra Woman Sentenced to 14 Years for Deadly High-Speed Crash
A Canberra woman has been sentenced to 14 years in jail for the culpable driving causing death of 20-year-old Matthew McLuckie in a tragic high-speed crash in 2022. The sentencing, handed down today, brings a measure of closure to the McLuckie family, who have endured a protracted legal process and unimaginable grief.
Reckless Driving Led to Fatal Collision
Shakira Adams, 23, pleaded guilty to both culpable driving causing death and driving a stolen vehicle. The incident occurred on Hindmarsh Drive, where Adams, driving a stolen car and unlicensed, allegedly engaged in street racing with another vehicle. According to court testimony, Adams traveled on the wrong side of the road at a speed exceeding 177 kilometers per hour when she collided head-on with Mr. McLuckie’s car.
Mr. McLuckie was on his way home from work at Canberra’s airport at the time of the crash.
Family’s Grief and Relief
The courtroom was filled with emotion as the sentence was delivered, with Mr. McLuckie’s loved ones expressing both relief and profound sorrow. “I’m never going to wake up and be at ease with what happened to my son, I never will,” said Mr. McLuckie’s father, Tom McLuckie, outside the court. “I will always remember him and he’s never here now. He should be here today. I wish I’d never been in these courts, ever. I don’t know if you do move on, but you cope.”
The family has consistently attended court proceedings, with Mr. McLuckie bringing a framed photograph of his son to each hearing. Despite initial objections from Adams’s legal team, Chief Justice Lucy McCallum allowed the photograph to remain, stating, “It behoves the court to hold the hearing in a way that is trauma-informed.”
Significant Danger to the Community
Chief Justice McCallum described Adams as posing a significant “danger” to society. Adams was handed a non-parole period of nine years, meaning she will not be eligible for release until August 2034, and was disqualified from driving indefinitely. “I cannot be confident she would not attempt to drive if at liberty in the community,” Justice McCallum stated. “That is a risk that will not be taken through me.”
The court heard that Adams drove “dangerously and erratically” for 19.5 kilometers in just 17 minutes, speeding through a red light with five other cars nearby. Evidence presented indicated that Adams had been deprived of sleep for several days prior to the crash and had drugs, including ice, in her system, which Justice McCallum found would have “impaired her driving considerably.” Adams herself sustained serious injuries in the crash, including a traumatic brain injury.
Legal Challenges and Guilty Plea
Prior to the sentencing, Adams’s lawyers initially attempted to have her declared unfit to plead, arguing she was unable to understand the proceedings. However, Chief Justice McCallum determined that Adams was capable of retaining and retrieving information and could stand trial. Subsequently, her lawyers argued she was unable to provide instructions, but Adams ultimately pleaded guilty, paving the way for today’s sentencing.
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The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of reckless driving and the enduring pain inflicted upon families affected by such tragedies.
