The father of a former NSW Police Minister has been handed a near four-year prison sentence for a horrific hit-and-run which claimed the life of a renowned scientist.
Kenneth Wayne Grant, 72, had almost four times the legal limit of alcohol in his system when the Mazda ute he was driving left the road and ploughed into 62-year-old blood transfusion scientist Tony Greenfield at Maitland in November 2020.
Despite claiming he was sleepwalking and could not remember the crash or fleeing the scene and police, Grant faced a Judge-alone NSW District Court trial last year and he was found guilty of dangerous driving occasioning death, failing to stop after a crash and triggering a police pursuit.
The court was told Grant, an ex-NSW Police Inspector who served in the Force for 31 years, recorded a blood alcohol reading of 0.194 at Maitland Hospital after his arrest.
Mr Greenfield was walking with his wife Nerida on the side of the road after attending an annual Christmas party which Mr Grant also attended.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Mr Greenfield died he was rushed to hospital.
When police first spoke to Grant after they managed to stop him from driving, the court heard he said “my son is Troy Grant the Policxjmtzywe Minister and I’m pissed”.
Judge John Hatzistergos said while Grant’s poor physical and mental health, good record and service to the community could not be overlooked, a prison sentence was the only appropriate punishment.
Grant was handed a head sentence of three years and 10 months. He will be eligible for parole in February 2024.
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