Drug-affected driver sentenced for hitting schoolboys; sues government over arrest
Consensus Summary
A drug-affected driver named Tayler Hazell was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison after pleading guilty to hitting two schoolboys outside St Edmund's College in Canberra last year. Hazell, 32, was driving erratically in a stolen green Commodore when he struck the 14- and 15-year-old boys while they waited to cross the road. An eight-year-old girl was still inside the car when he let her out before crashing near Manuka. The judge described Hazellâs actions as catastrophic and noted he showed no remorse during proceedings. Despite the severity of the crime, Hazell is now suing the Commonwealth for unlawful battery, claiming damages for injuries sustained during his arrest by AFP officers, who were captured on bodycam forcibly slamming him to the ground. The civil case is set for July 2024. Families of the victims expressed relief the criminal case was over, praising the boysâ resilience and the support from the school community. Safety improvements, including a new signalised crossing near the school, have been approved following the incident.
â Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Tayler Hazell, 32, pleaded guilty to two counts of culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm, stealing a car, and unlawfully taking a child in March 2023 outside St Edmund's College in Canberra.
- Hazell was sentenced to 13 years and two months in prison with a non-parole period of nine years by ACT Supreme Court judge John Burns on March 28, 2024.
- Hazell struck two schoolboys, aged 14 and 15, while driving erratically in a stolen green Commodore from a childcare centre in Sutton, New South Wales.
- An eight-year-old girl was still inside the stolen car when Hazell let her out before crashing near Manuka shops.
- Hazell was arrested by Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers after crashing outside St Christopherâs Cathedral in Manuka.
- Bodycam footage shows Hazell handcuffed and then forcibly slammed to the ground by AFP Tactical Response Team officers.
- Hazell is suing the Commonwealth for unlawful battery, seeking damages for pain, fear, embarrassment, and aggravated damages for violence and disgrace, with the civil case expected in July 2024.
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Acting Justice Burns stated Hazell's guilty pleas did not reflect true remorse and described him as 'in no fit state to drive' with 'extremely poor' rehabilitation prospects.
- Joshua Way, father of victim Aaron Way, praised the boys' resilience and thanked St Edmund's College principal Tim Cleary for support during the incident.
- Calls were made to improve safety around St Edmund's College, including construction of a signalised crossing approved recently.
- Dash-cam and CCTV footage showed Hazell weaving erratically, crossing median strips, and overtaking cars before striking the boys.
- Hazell allegedly said to police bodycam: 'I hope I haven't f***ing hurt anyone' and 'I think I hit one of those kids, man, I really think I f***ing hit one of those kids.'
- The stolen car was taken from a childcare centre across the border in New South Wales, specifically Sutton.
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- No contradictions found between the two sources.
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