2019-11-15
Speeding, over-the-limit driver left friend in vegetative state
Stage: Sentence
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: The judge said he had no doubt Dowling was remorseful and was a man of conscience but said it was a "serious misjudgement" and he must impose a custodial sentence. Judge Nolan set a headline sentence of five to six years for the offence and, taking into account the mitigating factors, imposed a sentence of 40 months.