A man has been described as one of “the most reviled people” in South Australia after killing a teenage pedestrian when he lost control of his high-powered Lamborghini.
Alexander Campbell apologised for the first time publicly today for killing Sophia Naismith, who was struck along with a friend when the Adelaide man mounted a Glengowrie kerb in his $300,000 Lamborghini Huracan in June 2019.
He fronted the South Australian District Court to hear Sophia’s family’s victim impact statements today, after he was last month found not guilty of causing her death by dangerous driving.
He instead pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of driving without due care.
Family and friends of Naismith today labelled Campbell “one of the most reviled people in the state”.
“You are a gutless coward and have shown a shameful lack of decency,” her mother, Pia Vogrin, told Campbell before the court.
“My wish, my dream, my hope was that Sophia lived a full and happy life. You killed Sophia’s dream, her right to life.
“You will always be one of the most reviled people in this state and be remembered for this crime, I will ensure this.”
When asked about his perceived lack of remorse outside court, Campbell said he was sorry.
“I’ve always been sorry,” he told reporters
“I always will be sorry. But saying it isn’t going to bring anyone back, you know.”
Campbell was then asked how it was seeing Sophia’s family.
“I just feel for the them. I don’t want them to have to look at me and I don’t want them to have to relive it anymore.
“Nothing will make it feel better, nothing will make it good.”
He said that hearing Sophia’s mother speak about her grief felt “like ripping your heart out”.
When deciding not to find Campbell guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, Judge Muscat previously said it was not suggested Campbell was speeding, affected by alcohol or drugs when the crash occurred.
At the trial, prosecutors had contended Campbell accelerated harshly causing the powerful rear-wheel-drive car to swerve severely to the left.
But in an interview with police, the 37-year-old said when he changed gear while accelerating up to the 60km/h speed limit the wheels started spinning and the Lamborghini moved sideways instantly.
Campbell said he panicked as he was unable to stop the car from sliding, even though he was applying the brakes.
Campbell is yet to be sentenced.
