Simone Agatau (24) was sentenced in the district court yesterday to 100 hours' community work for causing the death of Pradeep Priyakumara Edirisinghe by aggravated careless driving.
Agatau drove through a stop sign on Two Chain Rd and ploughed into a Nissan, driven by 44-year-old Mr Edirisinghe, on August 28.
When Agatau entered the courtroom, he approached Mr Edirisinghe's family and shook hands with them.
Agatau was supported in court by friends and family.
Defence counsel Anne Stevens' statements to the court revealed Agatau had expressed remorse for causing Mr Edirisinghe's death and the family had accepted his apology.
Before his first court appearance, Agatau paid about $12,500 to Mr Edirisinghe's family to cover the cost of repatriation of his body and help with funeral costs.
Agatau, without the direction of the court, found community organisations where he could offer help, Mrs Stevens said.
''He has not waited for a court to make that order,'' she said.
''He has endeavoured to do community work in the community where he has caused harm.''
His action, which marred an otherwise flawless record, would ''be with him for the rest of his young life'', she said.
''I have never heard him grumble in regards to these things. It's just 'What do I have to do? How do I put it right?'.
''Fortunately, he was able to meet the family and they accepted his apology.''
Mr Edirisinghe's sister read a victim impact statement, on behalf of the family.
She said he had provided for his extended family and his loss had ''caused deep emotional and psychological impact on the lives of this family''.
His mother died in the days after the crash because of the shock of Mr Edirisinghe's death, she said.
''Pradeep's sudden death has done very serious damage to all of us,'' she said.
Judge John Macdonald said he accepted Agatau's remorse.
The fact he was an international driver had played no part in Mr Edirisinghe's death.
Agatau was also convicted on one count of causing injury by aggravated careless driving after his partner, a passenger in his rented camper van, was injured in the crash.
Driving conditions were clear, as was visibility in both directions, Judge Macdonald said.
''From that, I take it that the other car, like the stop sign and the sign warning of the stop sign, were there and there to be seen,'' he said.
''Why you failed to see the stop sign remains a mystery. There's no explanation.''
He accepted Agatau had tried to atone for his actions.
''The family, their loss is incalculable and I'm sure that you have some understanding about that terrible loss they have suffered.''
He ordered Agatau to pay a further $6500 in reparation to Mr Edirisinghe's family, $287.50 for the cost of a sign damaged in the crash, and disqualified him from driving for 18 months.
Outside court, Agatau spent time talking to Mr Edirisinghe's family.
