3 years for a life, page-2

A TEEN P-plater who almost killed a young schoolgirl in a horrific hit-run accident walked free from court yesterday.

Doctors told Chloe-Leigh McCarty's parents the 7-year-old wouldn't live through the night after Burak Uluturk, 19, ploughed into her while she was riding across a road near her Craigieburn home last November.

McCarty's mother, Amy Sidey, said the suspended jail term was a "pathetic" sentence for the collision that almost cost her daughter her life.

After the accident, the teen, who had been travelling at 68km/h in a 60km/h zone, fled the scene but pulled over nearby to remove the bike from under his car, police alleged.

When Uluturk realised he was being pursued by a witness, he tried to lose them in a maze of suburban streets before pulling into a driveway.
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A witness said he became hysterical, saying he had hit a girl, before being restrained by the owner of the premises.

Appearing in the Melbourne Magistrates' Court yesterday, Uluturk was convicted of failing to stop after an accident and speeding.

But Ms Sidey said the 12-month suspended sentence, four-year licence disqualification and $128 fine imposed on Uluturk was inadequate.

"People get time for stealing a loaf of bread these days and he gets to walk away," Ms Sidey said.

Uluturk told police he didn't see the young cyclist before the collision, but heard someone scream before the girl was on his bonnet. She suffered a traumatic brain injury, broken pelvis and jaw and split spleen and kidney.

Though doctors doubted she would walk and talk again, the grade 3 student is now doing both and is back at school.

Magistrate Donna Bakos said Uluturk's behaviour was callous, but she accepted he fled as a result of shock and panic, rather than to avoid responsibility.

She said his youth, remorse, guilty plea and excellent prospects for rehabilitation were relevant factors.

The maximum penalty for failing to stop is two years' imprisonment.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/p-plater-burak-uluturk-walks-free-from-court-following-callous-hit-run-that-almost-killed-young-girl/story-e6frf7kx-1226497333316