A man has been sentenced to 11 years in prison after a horrific crash last year that killed a woman and left four others injured.
WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised that this article contains the name of a person who has died.
Jahleel Delaine Ahirau Berryman, 28, was recorded driving at almost double the speed limit through a red light in April 2023, causing the death of 31-year-old Kerry Bodney, the mother of murdered toddler, Robert Bodney.
The court heard witness statements from passengers who survived the crash.
They said they were screaming at Berryman to stop and were in fear for their lives.
Jahleel Berryman drove through a red light and crashed a stolen car in Balga in April 2023, and left passenger Kerry Bodney to die. (Facebook: Jahleel Berryman)
The court heard Ms Bodney, who sustained critical injuries and later died in hospital, was found lying on a median strip 15 metres from the crash.
Berryman pleaded guilty to manslaughter in July.
He will be eligible for parole after serving nine years in prison and is disqualified from holding a licence for 10 years after his release.
Stolen car
Ms Bodney was a passenger in a stolen vehicle being driven by Berryman, who was recorded at 127 kilometres per hour, in a 70kph per hour zone.
The court heard CCTV footage showed Berryman turning to look in the direction of Ms Bodey and another passenger who had received life-threatening injuries, before fleeing the scene.
Justice Bruno Fiannaca said Berryman acted poorly and showed “blatant disregard” for the lives he deliberately endangered.
“You did nothing to render assistance but instead evade apprehension,” he said.
Jahleel Berryman has been sentenced to 11 years in prison over the fatal crash. (ABC News: David Weber)
The court heard Berryman did not hold a valid drivers licence at the time of the offence and he tested positive for various drugs, including cannabis and methamphetamine.
Witness statements from the time of the incident were read in court with one stating: “I’d never seen anything like it.”
Justice Fiannaca accepted Berryman held genuine remorse for his actions and was given a 20 per cent discount due to an early plea.
Second tragedy
It was the second time tragedy struck the Bodney family. Kerry Bodney’s toddler, Robert Bodney, was murdered by her former partner in 2012.
Wayne Murray Narkle, who was a heroin addict, “snapped” and then hit and shook the two-year-old because he would not stop crying.
At the time of his hearing, prosecutor Justin Whalley said Narkle viewed Robert as “too clingy and needed to man up and be more resilient”.
Narkle is currently serving a life sentence with a minimum of 15 years.
Ms Bodney’s brother, Craig Bodney, said his sister was a good person.
Craig Bodney remembered his sister as a “kind-hearted person”. (ABC News: Lauren Smith)
“She was kind-hearted,” he said.
“She gave this boy everything she had and he didn’t appreciate it to leave her dying on the side of the road. That’s what I reckon.
“Closure would be that he doesn’t get out and have a life again. My sister lost her son and she doesn’t have a choice to come back from the dead.”
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