A Queensland court has been told of a grieving husband's heartache, as the woman responsible for a crash that killed his wife is criticised for showing no remorse.
Rozlyn Grace Walker, 35, was sentenced on Friday after being found guilty of reckless driving causing the death of mother of three Tammy Frewin.
Ms Frewin was a Clermont healthcare worker and had been driving a patient home from a doctor's appointment on February 2 last year when Walker's car veered into her lane and collided head-on.
Ms Frewin, 44, died at the scene.
Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan found Walker guilty of causing the crash and driving with methamphetamines in her system, as well as that Walker had lied during her evidence, attempting to shift the blame at the last minute.
"She perjured herself … it's a very, very rare case that you can say that categorically," Ms Hartigan said during sentencing.
"I observed you for the whole trial, three days — you did not once shed a tear, not once show any emotion. You were showed the death certificate and you did not flinch.
"The only emotion you showed was when I found you guilty of the offence … and knowing that going to jail was a real risk."
During the sentencing, Walker cried continuously in the dock after spending two nights in the Mackay watch house.
A family left heartbroken
Ms Hartigan asked Walker if she had read the victim impact statement written by Ms Frewin's husband, Ian.
When she replied she had not, Ms Hartigan read the statement to the court.
"Tammy and I have been married for 21 years … and known each other for 27," Mr Frewin wrote.
"When Tammy and I first met, I immediately knew I was going to marry her. I even told my parents, and seven years later we got married after I had designed the wedding ring for her.
"Tammy was not just my wife, she was my best friend and my soulmate."
Mr Frewin wrote that after his wife's death he was unable to sleep until her ashes were brought home, and it was only when he was shown photos of her car that he was able to accept "that Tammy's not walking through the door anymore".
The court heard that he and his three sons continued to struggle without her.
He wrote that while in Mackay he visited the coffee shop across from the hospital where his wife would frequent when visiting for work.
"I ordered a coffee [and said], 'I'd like it how Tammy used to get'."
The woman behind the counter realised who he was and immediately came to give him a hug, offering him free coffee anytime he visited, he wrote.
"It really humbled me to know how much they liked Tammy."
Only the month before, Ms Frewin had been nominated for Isaac Citizen of the Year for her contributions to society.
Immediate parole
Prosecutor Linden Pollard argued Walker's conduct should be denounced and pushed for a sentence of six to nine months.
Defence lawyer Peter Clarke told the court his client had three children aged under 10 and had no criminal history.
Ms Hartigan noted that while she was "appalled and disgusted" by Walker's lack of remorse, her actual offence of reckless driving was for less than 200 metres.
She sentenced Walker to six months' imprisonment with immediate parole.
Convictions were recorded and she was disqualified from driving for 13 months.
