7 YEARS FOR HEROIN DRIVER

A mother of two who was high on heroin when she killed another motorist was
yesterday jailed for seven years. But the distraught mother of the dead man
criticised the sentence as too light, saying the woman had ruined her life.

"She should have got life," Mary Rogers said in tears outside the County Court.

"Anyone that kills someone should be branded for life.

"She ruined my life."

The County Court heard Carmel Therese Menzies, 31, had injected herself
with heroin while her two toddlers sat in the back seat of her car, before
wreaking havoc on the roads.

The court was told Menzies slammed into an oncoming car while driving on
the wrong side of the road on February 20 last year, killing John Rogers
and injuring his wife.

Judge John Dee said yesterday Menzies, who was trying to kick her drug
habit at the time, was suffering heroin withdrawal on the day.

He said despite her efforts to cleanse herself of the drug, her punishment
needed to deter others.

"The whole circumstances of this case reveal what an evil drug in our
society heroin is," he said.

"In cases where you have a person deliberately injecting themselves with
heroin and then drive a motor car, the sentence must deter others from
engaging in similar conduct."

Menzies, of Eric Cres., Mornington, pleaded guilty to charges of culpable
driving causing death, negligent driving causing serious injury and
possession of heroin.

Judge Dee set a minimum prison term of 3 years before parole.

He also cancelled her licence and disqualified her from driving for three years.