Qld: Drunk and deadly hoon wins appeal for reduced sentence

AAP General News (Australia)
08-29-2008
Qld: Drunk and deadly hoon wins appeal for reduced sentence

By Christine Flatley

BRISBANE, Aug 29 AAP - A drunk man who killed his best friend while drag racing at
the Gold Coast has had six months cut from his jail sentence.

The Court of Appeal in Brisbane today granted Clinton John Blanch, 23, the reduction
after agreeing the sentencing judge did not sufficiently take into account his youth and
his genuine remorse.

Blanch pleaded guilty in the Southport District Court in March to one count of dangerous
operation of a motor vehicle causing death and grievous bodily harm while adversely affected
by an intoxicating substance.

He received a six year sentence, of which he was ordered to serve at least two and a half years.

The crash took place in the early hours of July 2005 when Blanch, who had been taking
his friends to go pig chasing in the hinterland, crashed into a concrete barrier on Bundall
Road while racing another car.

It was estimated he had been driving up to 180km/h at the time of the crash.

Blanch had been drinking pre-mixed spirits just moments before the incident and had
a blood alcohol reading of 0.114 per cent.

The front seat passenger died in the crash, while one of the back seat passengers suffered
serious injuries when he was thrown from the vehicle.

In a written judgment handed down today the Court of Appeal cut six months from the
amount of time Blanch must serve before he will be eligible for parole.

Blanch will now be eligible to apply for release in March 2010.

AAP cf/pjo/jfm

KEYWORD: BLANCH

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