Family of Melbourne crash victim William Taylor tell court his death was 'completely avoidable'
The mother of a 28-year-old man killed in a crash involving a stolen vehicle in Melbourne's south-east last year has told a court his death "should never have happened".
William Taylor was driving to soccer training on the evening of July 2, 2024, when a stolen vehicle driven by a 17-year-old boy collided with his car in Burwood.
Expert analysis found the stolen car was travelling at 129 kph in a 60 kph zone in the seconds before the collision.
The male driver, who has since turned 18 but cannot be named for legal reasons, subsequently pleaded guilty to a number of driving and theft charges and faced a sentencing hearing in the County Court today.
Mr Taylor's mother, Denise Taylor, sobbed as she read a victim impact statement to the court.
She said there was "no pain relief available" for the "huge emptiness" she felt following the death of her son, "just grief and a huge sense of loss".
"He did nothing wrong, but was cruelly and horrifically killed in an event that was completely avoidable," she said.
Ms Taylor and her husband, Nick Taylor, were overseas when their eldest son rang to inform them of the 28-year-old's death.
Nick Taylor described his son as an intelligent, gentle and thoughtful person who was sorely missed.
"It still feels so raw, and thoughts of Will still dominate my days and nights," he said.
"His tragic loss will forever be a part of who I am."
The 28-year-old's girlfriend, Dennise Loyo, also addressed the court, saying his death had "shattered" her world.
"This sadness I feel every day follows me wherever I go," she said.
"Every day I cry. I'm constantly grieving the future I will never have with the love of my life."
The then-17-year-old driver was on bail at the time of the crash for other theft-related offences but had not yet been convicted of them.
The court heard the stolen vehicle had five passengers, aged 15 to 19, who later told police they repeatedly urged the driver to slow down.
Defence barrister Christin Tom told the court the passengers were "screaming for him to stop" but the driver instead turned the music up "so loud no-one could be heard".
No-one in the stolen vehicle was injured.
The occupants of the stolen vehicle allegedly fled the scene but a witness managed to stop two of the passengers, who were arrested and interviewed by police.
The accused made his way home and was in bed when police attended his house as part of his bail conditions.
He was arrested the following day.
Mr Tom told the court his client came from a "secure, stable and loving family" but was "exposed to people and behaviours online that changed his life's trajectory" during COVID-era lockdowns.
"He began to socialise with peers outside of his school community, some older than him, and people online, and they engaged in anti-social behaviour," Mr Tom said.
The barrister read from a statement from the driver's mother saying she lost "the son I knew long before the accident".
"He slipped away and was replaced by a teenager I failed to recognise," he read.
Mr Tom submitted his client had shown genuine remorse and understood the gravity of his actions.
He read from a psychiatric report that quoted the driver saying words couldn't describe his regret and he had "visions of that accident every day".
Mr Tom submitted his client would be likely to adopt antisocial attitudes and behaviours if sentenced to an adult prison and argued that a youth justice facility would be more appropriate.
The 18-year-old's bail has been extended until the matter returns to court in August.
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