Tayler Hazell, 32, has pleaded guilty to multiple offenses, including two counts of culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm, stealing a car, and unlawfully taking a child.
The charges stem from an incident on March 28 last year in Canberra.
Incident Details
Hazell took a green Holden Commodore from outside a childcare center in Sutton, NSW, with an eight-year-old girl inside. He drove a short distance before releasing the girl.
Footage from dashcam and CCTV showed Hazell driving erratically, weaving across roads, crossing median strips, and overtaking at speed.
He then drove onto a median strip on Canberra Avenue in Griffith, striking two teenage boys who were walking to school. Hazell subsequently crashed the stolen car in Manuka and was arrested.
Victim Impact
One 15-year-old boy, a St Edmund's College student, reported severe injuries to three fingers, resulting in ongoing weakness and pain in both hands. He stated he can no longer play football as before and experiences anxiety when passing the crash site.
The mother of the second boy stated her son spent 49 days in hospital, underwent eight-and-a-half hours of emergency surgery, and faced potential arm amputation due to the injuries sustained.
The father of the eight-year-old girl described her experiencing a "moment of terror" that altered her world view.
Court Proceedings
Hazell read a letter of apology to his victims, their families, first responders, and the community, attributing his actions to drug use and expressing interest in rehabilitation and restorative justice programs.
He acknowledged his actions as "careless, selfish, erratic, dangerous and gutless."
Prosecutor Tamzin Lee requested a significant sentence, questioning Hazell's remorse and suggesting his evidence should be viewed critically. Defence solicitor Sam Lynch acknowledged the extreme and ongoing harm but argued for rehabilitation due to Hazell's age.
Acting Justice John Burns expressed doubt regarding Hazell's remorse, noting his extensive criminal history and the fact he only stopped driving when the car became inoperable. Hazell also made complaints about his treatment by police, which ACT Policing stated was found to be below standards and referred to the professional standards team.
Hazell is scheduled for sentencing in late March.