Dad wants appeal for sentence handed to wife and daughter's killer
A Brisbane father who lost his wife and daughter in a devastating Christmas Day crash is pleading with the government to appeal the jail sentence handed to the drug-affected driver responsible.
Older daughter Tarmeka Trittin was driving herself and her family to a relative's home for lunch on Christmas Day 2017, when Mark Veneris lost control of his BMW, mounted a traffic island and slammed into them head on.
An ice pipe, still hot, was found on Veneris' passenger seat.
The head-on crash killed Karin and Makaylah Trittin (inset). 9News
Laurie Trittin told 9News he misses his wife and daughter terribly. 9News
Younger daughter Makayla and and her mother Karin were killed.
"I was married for 30 years. Makayla was only 18... and I just miss them terribly," father Laurie Trittin told 9News.
Mark Veneris. Supplied
Veneris pleaded guilty to causing Karin and Makaylah's deaths and was facing a maximum sentence of 14 years in jail.
Instead he was sentenced to seven years' jail and with time already served, he could be free by Christmas 2021.
"He took two lives.. injured us both. And he gets a slap on the wrist," Mr Trittin said.
"We've got the life sentence... so he should get one."
The Attorney General of Queensland has eight days to appeal Veneris' sentence.
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