Ice addict who was on his way to buy drugs when he lost control of a stolen Mercedes and killed a Dutch cyclist is jailed for 11 years
- Michael Panayides was sentenced to 11 years jail for hit and run on Dutch cyclist
- Ice addict was going to buy drugs when he hit and killed Gitta Scheenhouwer, 27
- Ms Scheenhouwer, an architect, was riding through Melbourne when she was hit
- Panayides who was doing 80km/h in a 40km/h zone fled the scene post crash
A speeding motorist who was on his way to buy drugs when he hit and killed a Dutch cyclist has been jailed for 11 years.
Michael Panayides slammed into cyclist Gitta Scheenhouwer, 27, in Chapel Street in August 2018.
She was living her dream of becoming an architect in Melbourne when her life was cruelly cut short as she rode in a designated bike lane on a sunny Sunday morning.
Panayides, who was driving at 80 km/h in a 40 zone, tried to overtake another car and lost control. The homeless ice addict fled the scene after the crash.
Michael Panayides was driving a stolen Mercedes when swerved into a bike lane on Chapel Street in South Yarra and crashed into Gitta Scheenhouwer (pictured) in August last year
Panayides (pictured), who was driving at 80 km/h in a 40 zone and fled after the crash, was sentenced to 11 years in jail on Friday. He was also slapped with a 20 year driving ban
‘One can only describe the speed as really frightening,’ Judge Michael McInerney said.
‘The results and consequences of such speed are cruelly dramatic.’
Panayides was jailed for 11 years with a minimum eight-and-a-half years in the County Court on Friday.
He was also slapped with a 20 year driving ban.
The judge found his actions in the mid to high range of culpability.
‘It’s a serious case of negligent culpable driving emanating from blatant disregard for the life and safety of others on the road,’ he said.
‘Failing to stop in these circumstances is a despicable and cowardly act.
‘One can only describe the speed as really frightening,’ Judge Michael McInerney said in court on Friday (Pictured is the scene on Chapel Street, South Yarra, moments after the horror crash)
Ms Scheenhouwer was living her dream of becoming an architect in Melbourne when her life was cruelly cut short
The family and former partner Thomas Kleinegris (second from left) of Dutch cyclist Gitta Scheenhouwer leave the County Court in Melbourne
‘Mr Panayides, each of your victims has had a profound, senseless, needless loss at your hands.’
Panayides pleaded guilty to multiple charges including culpable driving causing death, failing to assist and recklessly causing injury.
Ms Scheenhouwer’s parents, siblings and boyfriend Thomas Kleinegris, who was living in Melbourne with her at the time, travelled from the Netherlands for the sentence.