this post was submitted on 15 Sep 2025
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Hit-run driver Jake Danby spared jail time by NT Supreme Court after describing victim as an 'oxygen thief' (www.abc.net.au)
submitted 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) by hanrahan@slrpnk.net to c/australia@aussie.zone
28 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

A 24-year-old man who hit two Aboriginal pedestrians with his car and sped away, later bragging to his friends he'd run down an "oxygen thief", has been spared actual jail time

The court heard Danby sent a series of "disgusting" text messages to his friends in the hours after the crash, in which he labelled the crash victims as "dogs" and "n***ers".

No jail ? Lucky he didn't run Charke Kirk down I guess.

#EDIT: an update for those interested#

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-18/family-of-man-killed-in-darwin-hit-and-run-speak-out/105787700

The family of an Aboriginal man run down and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Darwin last year have voiced their "disgust and dismay" at the lack of a prison sentence for the offender.

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[–] johnwicksdog@aussie.zone 6 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I read this yesterday and just can't shake it. It's so fucked up.

I try remind myself of a study where members of the Australian public were asked if sentences were too lenient. The same question was asked of jurors from the actual court case. The results were that the public was far more likely to have the opinion that a sentence was too lenient where as the jury was more likely to believe it was appropriate. Normally considering this helps me take a step back from being outraged; Those who are closer to the case have considerations that aren't making the paper.

This case has to be an exception though. I just can't fathom how the judge arrived at such an abhorrently lenient sentence. This can only prove to indigenous people, and the family of the victims they don't matter. I really hope there is some review on this sentencing to prevent this in the future.

[–] hanrahan@slrpnk.net 2 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

members of the Australian public were asked if sentences were too lenient. The same question was asked of jurors from the actual court case. The results were that the public was far more likely to have the opinion that a sentence was too lenient where as the jury was more likely to believe it was appropriate. Normally considering this helps me take a step back from being outraged; Those who are closer to the case have considerations that aren't making the paper.

I agree and have read the same, I rarely comment or post about such things for that reason. This wasn't a jury case though, he plead guilty

This case has to be an exception though.

Indeed and why I posted about it. Shocking as it would have been If the.dude had hit them and killed him but if he'd stooped amd rendered assistance but this .. this is next level

In the hours after the crash, Danby sent a series of text messages to his friends in which he called the victims "dogs", "n*****s" and "oxygen thieves" and boasted about the collision.

"Nah c***, I'm on a come down for work, I ain't stoppin' for no one," he wrote in one message.

"It was pretty funny watching them roll around on the road after going over my bonnet and through my windscreen

This update has some reasons given as well as the family being upset by it all

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-18/family-of-man-killed-in-darwin-hit-and-run-speak-out/105787700

The family of an Aboriginal man run down and killed by a hit-and-run driver in Darwin last year have voiced their "disgust and dismay" at the lack of a prison sentence for the offender

From the judge

In sentencing Danby, NT Supreme Court Justice Sonia Brownhill described the texts as "shockingly callous".

She accepted Danby had shown remorse since the incident and had good prospects for rehabilitation due to his young age, lack of criminal history, and strong employment record.

NAAJA chair Theresa Roe said in a statement the messages were "racist and dehumanising".

There is little to suggest the offender's racist attitudes have been reformed, despite the immense harm for Aboriginal communities across the NT caused by such attitudes."

I can only agree mith Ms. Roe.

[–] johnwicksdog@aussie.zone 1 points 2 weeks ago

This wasn’t a jut trial though, he pled guilty.

I suspect the reason a jury was chosen for the study was simply to find a cohort that was lay to the legal professions but still intimidate to a particular case. The lack of a jury doesn’t mean this still isn’t relevant, since it relates to the perception of fair sentencing among the public.