A person who hit and killed a bike owner in Melbourne has been jailed.
Joshua Moloney, 31, thought he hit a pole when he ran over and killed Michelle Ruitenbeek, 50, a Melbourne triathlete, on the Nepean Freeway in Chelsea in 2019.
Moloney wiped away tears and sobbed on Thursday as he was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in jail.
The court docket heard Ruitenbeek was significantly injured and subsequently died after being hit whereas driving her bike.
Moloney had pleaded responsible to harmful driving and mentioned he didn't know he had hit anybody and as a substitute thought he had hit a pole.
Moloney's authorized group had requested for a prolonged group correction order as a substitute of jail time.
In sentencing, Supreme Courtroom Choose Lex Lasry was surprised as to how Moloney was so "oblivious" to the bike owner driving in entrance of him.
"I frankly discover it obscure, you failed to understand you had hit her," Lasry mentioned.
"Ms Ruitenbeek was a critical, aggressive and succesful bike owner who had completed all the pieces to make herself seen."
It was accepted Moloney was genuinely remorseful and was not underneath the affect of medication or alcohol, and he now struggles with anxiousness and PTSD.
The 31-year-old might be eligible for parole in 18 months.