Woman jailed over drunken fatal crash

Angry scenes erupted in a Melbourne courtroom after a woman was jailed for at least
six years over a drunken high-speed crash that killed her two friends and injured
three others.
Maria Makridakis, 26, of Oakleigh, was driving with a car-load of friends when she
lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a tree at an estimated speed of
146km/h, the County Court heard.
The crash in September 2006 claimed the lives of passengers Lirijeta Sulemani, 18,
and Channelle Metcalfe, 22.
Sulemani's sister Lumjeta Sulemanovski, then 22, and Constance Valiontis, then 21,
were seriously injured.
Makridakis was speeding in her Nissan 300ZX in a 70km/h zone on Dandenong Road when
the crash occurred. She was later was found to have a blood alcohol reading of
0.136.
The court heard Makridakis had ignored pleas to slow down as she and her five
passengers headed towards Crown Casino.
She oversteered and lost control, hitting a tree then smashing into a brick fence.
Crash reconstruction experts put her speed at a minimum of 146km/h.
Judge Liz Gaynor accepted Makridakis' deep remorse.
"This whole situation is simply a tragedy," she said.
"Two bright beautiful women are dead."
Judge Gaynor said the victim impact statements were heart wrenching and showed the
agony and ongoing grief suffered by those close to the girls who died.
After she jailed Makridakis for 10 and a half years, with a minimum of six years,
there was an outpouring of emotion in the packed court.
Some supporters of the victims clapped while others burst into tears.
Once Judge Gaynor left the bench, one young man yelled "Where's the sorry?" while
another said "Rot in hell".
A woman shouted "At least your daughter's alive" while a supporter of Makridakis
said "It was your decision to get in".
The court had heard Makridakis was deeply affected by what happened and had become
reclusive and reluctant to leave her home.
Outside court, Lumjeta Sulemanovski, whose sister was killed, said her family was
still awaiting an apology.
"She has never even apologised to my family or the other girl's family," she said.
"She's shown no remorse within the whole three years, it's just not fair.
"Now because she knows she's being sentenced for jail, to show remorse today is not
enough."
Ms Sulemanovski said nothing would stop her family's pain.
Josephine Minhinnick, the mother of victim Channelle Metcalfe, said: "No amount of
time will bring back our girl."
She urged young people against getting into a car with a drink driver.
Makridakis pleaded guilty to two counts each of culpable driving causing death and
negligently causing serious injury.