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Community service for rider death

200-hour community service order but no conviction for death of rider Graham Jurott

A driver who caused the death of rider Graham Jurott (pictured) has received a 200-hour community service order but no conviction for “driving without due care”.

Graham’s son, Lester “Doc” Jurott says he is a “little perplexed” that Sarah Winyard, 21, didn’t have a conviction recorded.

“It would also have been good for a compensation order to help our family with the out-of-pocket expenses since dad’s death,” he says.

Doc suggested Sarah’s community service should include educating other young motorists of the ramifications of not looking out for motorcyclists.

“She’s done a defensive driving course since the accident but that’s closing the gate after the horse has bolted,” he says.

“I would like to see her get involved in educating other young people in the community about motorcycle awareness.”

Crash details

The accident occurred in Juliette Street, Greenslopes, Brisbane, on September 27, 2017.

Graham, aged 87, was riding home after renewing his motorcycle licence which he had to do every year because of his age.

200-hour community service order but no conviction for death of rider Graham Jurott
Graham on one of his earlier bikes

Doc says his dad had recently had laser surgery and could read the bottom line on the eye chart.

But it wasn’t Graham who didn’t see the other vehicle.

It was the driver who did not see Graham and T-boned his motorcycle. A clear case of SMIDSY.

“She was cutting across a double line from a side road feeding into Juliette St in order to gain access to a side street on the other side of the road,” Doc says.

“Sadly, dad passed away in PA Hospital a few hours later as a result of his injuries.

“The investigating police officer advised me she was not texting or on the phone, but clearly distracted.”

Driving charge

Doc says he cannot understand why the woman was not charged with dangerous driving causing death which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years.

“For some reason the cops went light on her. The magistrate (Justice Hay) questioned that herself.”

Justice Hay had earlier reserved sentencing and called for impact statements from the family, a psychologist report on the driver and other documentation.

200-hour community service order but no conviction for death of rider Graham Jurott
Graham and sons Doc and Tony

“The magistrate spent over half an hour reading and referring to previous cases to help explain how she came to her sentencing,” Doc says.

Justice Hay took into account the driver’s mental condition following the traumatic crash.

Doc says Justice Hay told the court a conviction would have a negative impact on Sarah’s ability to assume her aspirations of studying to be a social worker with refugees.

The driver, who pleaded guilty in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, also received a 12-month driving disqualification, 12 months’ probation and must get permission to leave the state.

Her 200 hours of community service must be completed within 12 months.

Riding companion

Doc says he misses riding his Kawasaki ZR-7 alongside his dad on his Honda VT750.

“I miss riding with him terribly,” he says.

“I used to ride with him a lot. We had many circuits around the hinterland and the dams and we’d stop off and have a coffee and a scone together.”

Graham was a professional photographer and took many photos of his bikes.

He was also a long-time rider who even took his pregnant wife, Esther, in their sidecar.

Graham and Ron Auburn formed the Brisbane branch of the Ulysses club in the early 1980s after amassing a group of like-minded mature-aged riding friends at MRA Rallies, Toy Runs, Blood Runs, etc.

Doc says his dad remained a member, but passed in his presidency around the early ’90s in favour of riding with a close unit of friends, rather than a pack.

  1. And Graham was having to be tested every year? How about a five year suspension for the driver that killed him and yearly tests every year for another 5?.
    Lest she forget.

  2. “Justice Hay told the court a conviction would have a negative impact on Sarah’s ability to assume her aspirations of studying to be a social worker with refugees.”

    What a load of bollocks.
    Maybe she has aspirations of riding a unicorn on weekends too. So what?
    Are education instututions allowed to knock her back if she has killed someone?
    Are refugees now taking a moral stance about the driving history of their social workers?
    I assume the police figured old Mr Jurott had it coming because he was on a (black?) motorcycle and a member of a “gang” (Ulysses).

    1. I agree with your feelings Mr_T. Wholeheartedly.
      Dad hadn’t worn his Ulysses colours since he resigned his Presidency, & as recently as last year, chose not to renew his membership, as he’d not been an active member for some time, & removed his rear number plate surround. …As a result, he won’t appear in the “Ridden on” section of their magazine.
      So bloody what. The club in its current state wouldn’t be able to acknowledge his existence.

      Getting back to the Defendant, it is my belief the investigating Cops went easy on her, the Magistrate’s leniency was, just that, & she’s a very lucky 21yr old. But thru the Editor of this tome, & others, her community service WILL involve education of younger drivers becoming more Motorcycle aware. Cheers Mate.

  3. Friend of ours was riding from Hinze Dam to Natural Arch, bit of a drizzle happened and a van came round the corner on the wrong side of the road of double white lines and hit 3 bikes. 1 remained upright our mate Dave Hull was killed and thrown over the armco to the dam basement and another rider went under the van and has spent the last 2 years getting operations. The driver of the van got 120hrs community service! They say there was a precedent from the ’80s and could not give him anything else. Dave’s fiancee died a few months later from a broken heart…….. to the government, bike riders are just scum, we always have been and always will be!!

  4. Appeal the conviction, this is so hard to digest that someone has died as a result of a distraction. I would seek more legal advice, this is worthy of a retrial and a punishment equal to the severity of the offence committed. A life has been taken, the police have sided with the driver[for reasons unknown] the rider after many years of abiding the rules and regs, dos’nt have a voice anymore. I wish the family of the bereaved have a better outcome and my thoughts and prayers are with you.

  5. If it was the Judges Kid it would be a different story
    Throw the book at her, what a disgrace…

  6. There can be little doubt that had Sarah Winyard been SAMUEL Winyard, 21 year old male, in identical circumstances, the police and criminal justice system would have thrown the book at him. Women are always treated more leniently than men even for the same crime.

  7. That news makes me feel so sad for Graham & his family, no doubt he was a true rider, a & no doubt he’ll be missed terribly.

  8. True that Thomas. They would’ve thrown the book, followed by the book shelf, followed by the whole Library brick by brick. & Samuel would be hated by the masses… main stream media would persecute him, & the poor wretch carry it as a knock for the rest of his life…& more than likely do time. She will (as part of comm service) get involved in training like-minded young knuckle-headed drivers in being more Motorcycle aware. It is my intention, with the guidance of Mark & his colleagues to bring this forward… with the primary objective to educate, rather than legislate (which is all too easy) The Roller Coaster is about to begin.

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