A magistrate has condemned a North Queensland man for trying to escape police custody after killing a road worker.
Tristan James Watson was earlier convicted in the District Court in Mackay for dangerous driving causing the death of 35-year-old Brendan Moreland.
Mr Moreland had been at work, setting up traffic cones on the Ronn Camm Bridge about 4am on October 26, 2021.
The court heard that Watson, then 28, was unlicensed and speeding in a stolen car when he veered to avoid the road work equipment and struck Mr Moreland.
Watson didn't stop, and Mr Moreland later died at the scene.
Watson was sentenced late last year to five and a half years in jail for dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Moreland at speed and leaving the scene of a fatal
No remorse
Today, the Mackay Magistrates Court heard that in the hours after hitting the road worker, Watson showed "no remorse" for his actions.
Prosecutor Sergeant Pollard told the court Watson drove past the scene where paramedics were working to save the road worker but again did not stop.
Sergeant Pollard said Watson drove another stolen car and continued to evade police.
Police received a tip-off to Watson's location at an apartment in Mackay.
The court heard Watson had hidden in a cavity in the ceiling where he tried to kick at police and attempted to removed parts of the roof to escape.
Police sprayed Watson and arrested him.
The court heard during that on November 2, Watson was being transferred to the Capricornia Correction Centre when the transport bus broke down and passengers were instead taken to the watch house.
CCTV footage played in court showed three police officers opening the door of the van to move Watson inside, he leapt from them and sprinted with officers catching him before he made it to the road.
Watson pleaded guilty to attempting to escape from police custody and multiple evasion offences, unlawful use of motor vehicles, and driving unlicensed charges.
Watson's lawyer David Epstein submitted his client was "extremely remorseful" and had cried during his interview with police.
Magistrate unimpressed with 'despicable' conduct
Magistrate Bronwyn Hartigan told the court that while she accepted Watson may have been remorseful during his sentence, she did not believe he had been in the hours or days following Mr Moreland's death.
"One would imagine, given the enormity of what you had done, that insight would kick in and you would go easily," Ms Hartigan said.
"But you were going to fight til the death, and you did that again."
Watson's parole eligibility date for Mr Moreland's death is September 23, 2024.
However on Thursday, Ms Hartigan called Watson's conduct after the fatality "despicable" and extended the parole eligibility date by a month, until the October 24, 2024.
All his remaining offences were sentenced concurrently with all convictions recorded.
