Ice addict mum who kept drug driving after killing her son, 7, in meth-fueled crash begs judge to spare her from jail
- Stacey Brooke Panozzo, 36, smashed her car into a tree while high on ice
- She killed her 7-year-old son, Jackson Levi Rayner, in the November 2017 crash
- Her lawyer claims she’s brain injured and may not get adequate treatment in jail
- But the prosecutor said an immediate prison term is the only sentencing option
A South Australian mother who continued drug driving after she killed her son while high on methamphetamine has asked a judge not to jail her.
Stacey Brooke Panozzo, 36, killed her seven-year-old son, Jackson Levi Rayner, in the November 2017 crash.
The family was returning from a beach holiday when their car slammed into a tree at Kuitpo, south of Adelaide.
Stacey Brooke Panozzo, 36, killed her seven-year-old son, Jackson Levi Rayner, (pictured) in the November 2017 crash.


Stacey Brooke Panozzo (pictured) who continued drug driving after she killed her son while high on methamphetamine has asked a judge not to jail her
She was bailed on charges of causing death and harm by serious driving but taken into custody earlier this year after she was again caught driving under the influence of methamphetamine and while unlicensed.
Lawyer Stephen Ey, for Panozzo, told the District Court on Friday his client had suffered a brain injury in the crash and might not have access to adequate treatment in prison.
He instead asked Judge Paul Cuthbertson to hand her an intensive correction order, which would allow her to undergo rehabilitation in the community.
‘She’s going to be better looked after in the community to get the necessary rehabilitation treatment that she requires for traumatic brain injury,’ he said.
But prosecutor Kelly Smith said an immediate prison term was the only sentencing option and a correction order would likely fail.
‘Ms Panozzo, before she was taken into custody, did not demonstrate any willingness to participate in any rehabilitation program, she failed to turn up to appointments and she’s failed to abstain from taking illicit drugs,’ she said.
‘She has had the opportunity, whilst subject to bail in the community, to demonstrate that she would be a willing participant in her rehabilitation and she has failed to do that.’
Judge Cuthbertson remanded Panozzo in custody to reappear before the court in September.

Ms Panozzo was originally bailed for the fatal drug-fueled car crash (pictured) that killed her son, but now Prosecutor Kelly Smith says an immediate jail term is the only sentencing option

Panozzo (pictured) has reportedly suffered a ‘traumatic brain injury’ which she may not get adequate treatment for while in jail, her lawyer says
Sorry we are not currently accepting comments on this article.