The boyfriend of jetski accident victim, Emily Collie, 20, will not be serving time in a Thai jail after pleading guilty to reckless driving causing death.
The judge at the Thai court handing down Tom Keating, 22, his sentence said that Tom’s behaviour toward Emily’s family and in the days following the accident have convinced her that it was a tragic accident.
‘The defendant has been helping the family of the deceased … he paid for their aeroplane ticket and hotel and for her body to be sent back to Australia and her funeral,” she said, reports the Herald Sun.
‘The girl’s parents understand that this happened accidentally.’
He was sentenced to one year in prison, suspended for 2 years, and a 5,000 baht fine ($188 AUD), and walked out of the court a free man.
Tom has attracted a lot of sympathy after the accident, which was caused when he and Emily collided on jet skis after Tom was blinded by sunlight off the water on January 26, 2017. Emily died from her injuries on the beach shortly after.
Tom wrote a touching statement at his endless gratitude to Emily’s parents, who have stood by their late daughter’s boyfriend during the whole ordeal.
‘I would like once again to thank them for their support during this time of grieving for their wonderful daughter,’ he wrote.
‘I am heartbroken over Emily’s loss as well, and look forward to going back to Australia and paying my deepest and most loving respects to her and her family on our home soil.’
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