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Australian motorbiker who left cyclist dying and bragged about it found guilty

Court hears of rants against cyclists and deliberate violence towards them

A motorcyclist who boasted about killing a cyclist, saying he “deserved it”, has been found guilty of manslaughter.

Ben Smith, 27, from Sydney, hit father of three Steve Jarvie, 61, and left him dying in the road.

Smith went on to the Mount White Café, where he told others: “The f---ing bike rider shouldn’t have been in the middle of the road.”

He added: “I hit him, I’ve got it on my Go-Pro. The c--- deserved it.”

NSW District Court was also told that on Smith’s Facebook page there was a post in which he commented on a bumper sticker warning road users to stay 1.5 metres away from cyclists.

He said: “Get f---ed c---t. Start paying for using the roads or keep coping abuse and 2inch flybys,” according to the Telegraph.

The prosecutors said this was evidence of Smith’s hatred for cyclists.

Jurors were quick to come to a guilty verdict in the case, although all parties accepted that the exact way Mr Jarvie came to harm will never be known.
Smith declined to give evidence throughout the trial, and police never recovered the Go Pro.

Mr Jarvie’s fiancée Linda Ellis said: “There was an overwhelming sadness as well for Steve not being here, for the life we were just starting to make for ourselves and strangely enough, as a mother of two children myself, I felt quite sad for [Smith] as well.

“His callous and reckless behaviour has caused so many lives to be affected – one life lost and so many people affected.

“Steve was a very loving, kind and generous partner - always considerate, helpful and agreeable. He had a brilliant intellect and a curious, enquiring mind and his zest for life made him a fun-loving and entertaining companion.”

Ben Smith was found guilty of manslaughter and dangerous driving. He is on bail but could face a sentence of up to 25 years.

 

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16 comments

Avatar
PaulCee52 | 7 years ago
1 like

I often wonder if morons who use the 'road tax argument' as a means of justifying close passes, and similar behaviour, have the same attitude towards pedestrians walking in the road, such as country lanes, as a means of getting from A to B?

Avatar
velo-nh | 7 years ago
2 likes

Sounds like murder, not manslaughter.  The motorist intended to "punish" cyclists.

 

Avatar
Cozz | 7 years ago
1 like

Convict spawn - prison, their natural habitat. 

Avatar
Bob F replied to Cozz | 7 years ago
1 like

Cozz wrote:

Convict spawn - prison, their natural habitat. 

 

Trawling Cozz?.... very classy.

Meanwhile, real-world condolences to Steve Jarvie's family and friends.

 

Avatar
Sub4 | 7 years ago
5 likes

 When I saw manslaughter, I knew it could not be in the UK. 

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burtthebike | 7 years ago
9 likes

Thank heavens this was in Australia.  In the UK he would have been acquitted and awarded costs.

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1wrangler | 7 years ago
5 likes

There is no hope for a sociopath who thinks violent murder is an appropriate response to having to be aware of cyclists while driving. This hopeless loser doesn't deserve to live at all among decent people.

Avatar
David9694 | 7 years ago
3 likes

"...Start paying for using the roads or keep coping abuse and 2inch flybys,” according to the Telegraph. 

Maybe it's just mouthing off, but some drivers/bikers appear to equate the payment of "road tax" (Vehicle Excise Duty to you and me) with how they will behave to you out on the road.  

Amen to comments so far.

Avatar
tritecommentbot | 7 years ago
8 likes

Put him in a cage with a hungry panther.

Then live stream it in the Top Gear slot.

 

 

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MikeOnABike | 7 years ago
10 likes

Let's hope there's a big bloke called "Donk" who makes this piece of shit his bitch for the next 25 years.

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WashoutWheeler replied to MikeOnABike | 7 years ago
3 likes

MikeOnABike wrote:

Let's hope there's a big bloke called "Donk" who makes this piece of shit his bitch for the next 25 years.

Oh, I DO hope so! But failing that, I will settle for him catching something Incurable, excrusiatingy painful, of long duration and ultimately fatal, and ideally contracted just after his medical insurance has run out!

The oxygen thief deserves nothing less.

Avatar
Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
12 likes

Here's hoping for the 25 years end of the sentence. 

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emishi55 | 7 years ago
9 likes

yes. of the malevolent, dangerous and rabid, psychopathic kind.

People having this kind of 'personal problem' are best confined to a cage, where without wheels or an engine they are less likely to be able harm others so easily... 

,,,and where perhaps time will enable them to retrieve some semblence of personal responsibility...

 (not currently applicable to the UK) 

 

Avatar
Grahamd replied to emishi55 | 7 years ago
7 likes

emishi55 wrote:

yes. of the malevolent, dangerous and rabid, psychopathic kind.

People having this kind of 'personal problem' are best confined to a cage, where without wheels or an engine they are less likely to be able harm others so easily... 

,,,and where perhaps time will enable them to retrieve some semblence of personal responsibility...

 (not currently applicable to the UK) 

 

Best confined to a cage with 4 wheels, engine running and a pipe from the exhaust providing his air.

Avatar
Metaphor | 7 years ago
2 likes

Maybe he had personal problems.

Avatar
StraelGuy replied to Metaphor | 7 years ago
7 likes

Ramuz wrote:

Maybe he had personal problems.

 

Yes, but he's still a c**t.

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