A man who killed his teenage passenger in a fatal beach crash has shown “no insight” into his conduct, racking up multiple traffic offences just months after the horrific incident, a court has been told.
Family members of slain teenager Harrison “Harry” Payne packed Brisbane District Court as Lynden Joshua Roby learnt his fate for causing the 18-year-old’s untimely death while driving on a beach north of Brisbane last year.
In a disturbing twist, Crown prosecutor Mark McCarthy told the court that Roby, 20, had racked up multiple traffic offences after Mr Payne’s life was taken.
These included speeding through school zones, driving unlicensed, crossing red lights and fitting his car with unroadworthy tyres.
Mr McCarthy said Roby was found performing doughnuts in a new building estate five months after Mr Payne’s death.
“His post offence conduct does not speak of an individual who has insight to the serious offending behaviour he engaged in,” Mr McCarthy said.
He said Roby was a “continuing danger to the community” while driving.
Mr Payne’s family members and supporters – donning black shirts adorned with The Harrison Payne Initiative logos – spilt over two courtrooms during the sentencing process.
Roby last week pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing Mr Payne’s death.
The court was told Roby, 20, was driving his 4WD on Ocean Beach in Woorim on May 30, 2021, with Mr Payne in the passenger seat.
Mr McCarthy said the pair were “friends” and were part of a “convoy” of young people who had met at the beach.
“They appeared, at times, to be racing each other,” he said.
Multiple people were at the camping ground at the time of the offence and saw the drivers, including Roby, driving dangerously as people camped, fished and swam in the ocean.
Roby performed “power slides”, doughnuts and fishtails before his car rolled on the driver’s side.
Mr Payne was thrown from the vehicle onto the wet sand and died at the scene.
Mr McCarthy said Roby claimed he tried to straighten up and brake but was not forthcoming with his full driving.
“Over a protracted period, the defendant engaged in deliberately dangerous driving,” he said.
“The vehicle was driven at excessive speeds … he had participated in a course of driving which was clearly dangerous.”
Mr Payne’s family members and supporters are delivering victim impact statements to the court.
More to come.