April 24, 2024

A Linville man who killed a Moore resident in a deliberate head-on crash at Harlin in 2021 has been sentenced to 10 years’ jail.

The Crown alleged Jacob Paul Johnston deliberately drove his Mercedes-Benz into oncoming traffic on December 1, 2021, in a suicide bid after breaking up with his girlfriend.

His vehicle struck a Nissan Navara being driven by Moore nurse Michelle Wolff, 49.

Johnston, now 23, also suffered significant injuries in the crash and was charged in a bedside hearing in March 2022.

He pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday to charges of manslaughter and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

He was originally charged with dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death however prosecutors upgraded the charge to manslaughter.

The charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice related to Johnston’s actions while on remand urging his ex-girlfriend to change her statement to police.

Justice Paul Freeburn declared Johnston a serious violent offender, meaning he must serve 80 per cent of his sentence before he becomes eligible to apply for parole.

The 778 days he has spent in custody were declared as time served.

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