A first-time jet ski driver who was under the influence when he killed a boy and injured another on the River Murray has been jailed for at least two years.
Daniel Patrick Liddell, 44, was convicted with dangerous driving over the jet ski crash that killed 14-year-old Cooper Henke at Murbko, near Blanchetown, in December.
Liddell — who had a blood alcohol reading of 0.08 and cocaine and methamphetamine in his system — also injured a 10-year-old boy.
The District Court said Liddell drove the jet ski directly into the boys — who were on holidays with their families from Roxby Downs — without braking or swerving.
It was a clear and sunny day and the two boys were on a "orange inflatable kayak" and wearing life jackets.
Judge calls Liddell 'grossly negligent'
During sentencing, Judge Michael Burnett said Liddell kept a "grossly deficient lookout".
"Given your alcohol consumption … and that you had taken some puffs of methamphetamine on the morning of the accident, it was inherently dangerous and an unacceptable risk for you to operate the jet ski," he said.
"Your grossly negligent lookout was not a momentary lapse — the kayaking victims … were always visible and should have been seen by you had you kept a proper lookout.
"Your consumption of alcohol and methamphetamine led to an overconfidence in your ability to operate the jet ski."
Liddell — who was a mining driller at a uranium mine — was staying at a shack with up to 20 work colleagues to celebrate the end of the year.
Judge Burnett said Liddell had drunk heavily the night before, taken some cannabis and cocaine, and gone to bed about 3:00am.
The next day he had "two puffs" of methamphetamine to counter his hangover and had not eaten before getting on the jet ski.
Judge Burnett said Liddell immediately swam to the "collapsed inflatable kayak" after the crash and tried to assist, pulling Cooper's head out of the water.
Cooper was unconscious when pulled from the water and he died at the scene.
Rider apologised to boy's family
Judge Burnett accepted Liddell was contrite and remorseful.
The father-of-one has previously apologised to the court for his crime.
"I'm immeasurably sorry for what I've done and the grief and trauma that I've caused to the families," he told the court during sentencing submissions in May.
"I wish I could take back that day and I wish I could exchange my life for his.
"I deserve to be punished and I will never forgive myself for what I've done; I'm sincerely sorry."
Judge Burnett said Liddell had a good employment history, but had not been able to work since the crash "because of the small community".
Liddell has been sentenced to three years' jail with a non-parole period of two years and three months.
Judge Burnett said Liddell had no criminal history and was unlikely to reoffend, but that the offending was too serious to suspend or allow the sentence to be served on home detention.
Outside court, Cooper's family said the sentence was "not enough".
"We're glad he's going to jail but it's just bulls***," a family member said.
Liddell's lawyer Craig Caldicott said the sentence was "reasonably fair".
"I thought it was balanced and clearly he's going to spend a fair amount of time in custody," he said.
"He's very sorry."
