Disqualified learner driver jailed over death of father and two-year-old

A disqualified learner driver has been jailed over the 2017 death of her father and a two-year-old girl in Sydney’s West.

Penina Nauer appeared at Campbelltown Local Court today where she was sentenced to a minimum two years, six months in jail, as her devastated family and three-month-old daughter watched on.

Two years ago, the now 22-year-old was travelling with her family from Griffith, in western NSW, to Sydney Airport when her father Antonio asked her to take a turn driving.

Nauer had not told any of her family she had been disqualified from driving two months earlier, and did as she was instructed.

There were nine people inside the Toyota Hiace when Nauer started to fall asleep and veered onto the wrong side of Mamre Road in Kemps Creek.

Their car collided head-on with another van, killing Mr Nauer and a two-year-old child.

“It’s very tragic, they’re still living daily with it,” Nauer’s lawyer Sohan Singh told 9News.

“They have forgiven her, but this has happened. Accidents happen.”

In last week’s sentencing submissions, the court heard in Samoan culture if an elder tells you to do something, you do it.

Nauer’s large Samoan family have been by her side at every court appearance.

Prior to sentencing, the judge told Nauer that although he felt great sympathy for the young driver and her family, “sentencing is not based on emotion”.

Nauer was sentenced to four years, six months in jail and will be eligible for parole after two and a half years.