The grief-stricken father of a Sunshine Coast crash victim has expressed his disappointment after the sentencing of the speeding driver, saying laws around juvenile crime are "too light".
Ryan Kimball, 16, was killed on June 9 last year when the car he was travelling in careened off the road at Bli Bli.
Maroochydore District Court heard the 17-year-old learner driver, who pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death, had borrowed his mother's car.
The court was told the driver, who cannot be named for legal reasons, did three laps of Finland Road, reaching speeds of between 120 and 180 kilometres an hour.
On the fourth lap, the driver overtook another car just before a bend in the road.
He lost control, with the car ploughing into a power pole.
Ryan was in the back seat and died at the scene.
The driver and the other passenger escaped with minor injuries and stayed to help until emergency crews arrived.
'Ripped my heart out'
Ryan's parents and grandparents were among a large group of supporters who packed the public gallery for Friday morning's sentencing.
Many wept openly as Crown Prosecutor Samantha O'Rourke read out victim impact statements including one from Ryan's mother, Annette.
Ms Kimball said she had been packing clothes with her son for a camping trip when he told her he was going for a drive.
"I pleaded with him to stay home because I just had this feeling," she said.
"When I arrived at the scene, a policeman advised me that Ryan was killed in the crash … as a mother, this totally ripped my heart out."
Ms Kimball went on to describe the impact on her family.
"Our house used to always have noise … now it's just silence, no laughter or happiness," she said.
Graeme Kimball's statement also detailed the devastating effects of his son's death and addressed the teenage driver directly.
"Not only were you responsible for killing my son, you also killed my heart and soul that day," he said.
"Ryan was and always will be my pride and joy and my best mate."
'Still a young man'
The court heard Ryan and the other passenger had been taking phone videos during the drive.
The other passenger was filming the speedometer as the car crashed, and the video was uploaded to social media and later seen by family and friends.
The prosecutor said the videos had added to the grief.
But defence barrister Simon Lewis argued his 17-year-old client had not posted the videos and showed "genuine remorse".
"He is still a very young man … the reckless and dangerous driving that my client undertook is almost classic young male risk-taking behaviour."
Judge Glen Cash said he took into account the teenage driver's early plea, remorse, good character references, "disruptive" childhood, and lack of criminal or traffic history.
"The 17-year-old brain is immature … young people do not think of consequences in the same way as fully developed people do and have a tendency to be overconfident," Judge Cash said.
He sentenced the driver to 18 months' detention, which he immediately suspended by placing him on a conditional release order.
The teenager was disqualified from driving for 18 months and no convictions were recorded.
The judge acknowledged the effect Ryan's death had on family and friends but said "the value of the human life is incalculable".
"There is no possible sentence that this court will impose upon you that could in any way reflect adequate compensation or balance for the loss of life."
'If you feel unsafe … get out of the car'
Outside court, Mr Kimball said he was "lost for words" after the sentence.
"Very disappointed … I understand he's a juvenile but … I don't know why they get learners' [licences]," Mr Kimball said.
"Driving a car's a weapon to kill."
He urged young people who find themselves in a car with a driver acting dangerously to speak up.
"If you're in a car and you feel unsafe … make an excuse, say you're going to be sick or just get out at the nearest service station," Mr Kimball said.
"Ryan didn't stick his hand up to get out of the car, he found himself in a dangerous situation [and] just thought he'd sit the ride out and he didn't make it home."
