In short:
Edward James McCoid has been sentenced to six years in prison after admitting he was drunk when he crashed a car, killing his friend Ritchie Faulkner last year.
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he → sentence → friend
Mr Faulkner, a grandfather, was remembered by his sister as the "glue" that held the family together.
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that → remember → family
McCoid will be eligible for parole in 2030
A man who drove drunk and killed his close friend in a crash on the New South Wales Far South Coast has been jailed for six years.
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who → drive → years
Edward James McCoid, 34, was sentenced by Bega District Court Judge Andrew Haesler today, after pleading guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death.
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McCoid → sentence → death
Ritchie Faulkner, a 46-year-old grandfather and former high school teacher, died from his injuries after the car they were in crashed at Tura Beach, north of Merimbula, on June 21 last year.
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they → die → June
Police alleged that McCoid's blood alcohol concentration could have been as high as 0.25 when he was behind the wheel.
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he → allege → wheel
McCoid lost control while overtaking a car towing a boat, sending the car airborne before it rolled for more than 60 metres along the roadside.
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it → lose → roadside
He was flown to Canberra Hospital, while Mr Faulkner died later that night from cardiac arrest after being taken to Bega's South East Regional Hospital with severe injuries.
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Faulkner → fly → injuries
Family shattered
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Family → shatter → ?
Outside court, Mr Faulkner's sister, Valley Mein, described her brother as fun-loving, outgoing and non-judgemental.
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sister → describe → brother
"He was a friend to everyone because he was very open," she said.
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she → say → everyone
In her victim impact statement, Ms Mein described her brother as the "glue" that held their family together.
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that → describe → family
"Losing him has shattered our foundation," she told the court.
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she → lose → court
"This offender has given us a life sentence of trauma and profound grief."
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offender → give → trauma
Jack Faulkner told the court he had lost not only his father but also his "best mate".
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he → tell → father
"He was the first person I called every time I achieved something," he said.
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he → call → something
"Not a day will go past where he isn't missed."
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he → go → ?
In her victim impact statement, Mr Faulkner's daughter, Kaylah Harlow, said she often wondered what her father's final moments had been like.
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moments → say → what
"I cry in the car when I hear a song that reminds me of him," she told the court.
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she → cry → court
"I cry when I listen to his voicemails every week.
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I → cry → voicemails
During sentencing, Judge Haesler read a letter from McCoid, who appeared via video link from custody with his head bowed for much of the hearing.
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head → read → hearing
In the letter, McCoid expressed remorse and sorrow towards Mr Faulkner's family and friends.
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McCoid → express → family
"These thoughts will haunt me for the rest of my life," the letter read.
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letter → haunt → life
The judge described the events of that night as "tragic" and an "incomprehensible betrayal by a friend".
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judge → describe → friend
The court heard McCoid continued to drink heavily after being discharged from rehabilitation following the crash, and at one point suffered an alcohol withdrawal seizure that required hospitalisation.
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that → hear → hospitalisation
"The community has to be protected from him," the judge told the court.
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judge → have → court
McCoid was disqualified from driving for two years and will be eligible for parole in May 2030.
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McCoid → disqualify → May
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