Former AFL Player Sentenced Over 10 Years for Manslaughter in Meth-Fueled Crash
A former Australian Football League player has been sentenced to more than 10 years in jail after pleading guilty to manslaughter in connection with a tragic head-on collision that claimed the lives of two elderly women. The crash, which occurred in June of last year, involved Shannon Cox, 39, who had methylamphetamine in his system at the time and was already under a community-based order for prior drug driving offenses.
The incident unfolded on the Brand Highway, approximately 170 kilometers north of Perth, near Cooljarloo. According to court documents, Cox’s Toyota Prado veered onto the opposite lane, initially colliding with a road train trailer before spinning and ultimately striking a hatchback carrying Thelma Clausen and Coral Seinor, both in their 80s. The two lifelong friends tragically died at the scene.
Prosecutors revealed that Cox admitted to smoking methamphetamine days before the crash, and testing confirmed the presence of the drug in his system. A prosecutor stated that Cox had a history of drug-impaired driving, with previous convictions in 2022 and 2023, and had violated his bail conditions on multiple occasions by continuing to use methamphetamine while in the community.
The defense argued that Cox was driven by a desperate need to reunite with his family, having been tasked with picking up his wife immediately following her release from custody. His lawyer, Paul Holmes, characterized the decision to drive from Geraldton to Perth as a “fateful mistake” made under immense personal pressure. Cox’s daughter, who was a passenger in the Prado, sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Justice Stephen Lemonis emphasized the devastating impact of Cox’s actions, noting that Ms. Seinor and Ms. Clausen were en route to a Country Women’s Association (CWA) event when their lives were abruptly cut short. The judge highlighted Cox’s extensive criminal record, emphasizing that “illicit drugs have been a prevailing feature of your life since 2016.”
A harrowing detail emerged during the proceedings: Cox reportedly began using methamphetamine at the age of 13, with his lawyer stating he was “bagging up drugs before he was taught how to ride a bike.” Despite expressing remorse, the court acknowledged the gravity of his repeated offenses and the catastrophic consequences of his choices.
The courtroom was filled with grief as family members delivered victim impact statements. Leanne Clausen, daughter of Thelma Clausen, described the profound loss and the ongoing struggles with panic attacks and sleeplessness. She poignantly recalled her mother as a woman with “a gift for everything she touched” and lamented that her life was taken in an “act that was completely avoidable.”
Suzanne Seinor, daughter of Coral Seinor, remembered her mother as a vibrant and loving woman, the “heart of our family.” She directly addressed Cox, stating, “You chose an action that took a life that mattered.” The emotional toll of the tragedy was palpable as both women recounted the irreplaceable void left by their mothers’ deaths.
Cox was sentenced to 10 years and six months imprisonment, with a parole eligibility date set after eight years and six months. He has also been disqualified from holding a driver’s license for four years upon his release. The case serves as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of drug-impaired driving and the enduring pain inflicted upon families and communities.
