The husband of a nurse killed by an electric dirt bike in a northern Perth park has urged society not to repeat past mistakes in an emotional tribute to his wife.
Police allege a 17-year-old boy was driving recklessly before hitting the 59-year-old woman in an Edgewater park about 2.30pm on July 26.
Tonight, John Harris thanked police for their support and described the loss of his wife, Shelley, as a “shock and a tragedy in so many ways”.
“Many people’s lives have been negatively impacted by her death,” she said.
“My wife was an excellent nurse and many people will now never be blessed to be cared for by her. She was admired, respected and loved by so many of her colleagues.
“Her infectious smile was disarming and her dedication and diligence in everything she applied herself to was something increasingly difficult to find in today’s society.”
He said his wife’s life was not the first to be lost “in this manner” and doubted it would be the last.
“As a society we must pause and reflect upon the kind of world we want to live in and begin making choices which result in us moving towards that world,” Harris said.
“Let us choose to not continue repeating the mistakes of the past.”
The teen was charged with manslaughter and faced court late last month.
Perth Children’s Court heard his parents had no control over their son and that police tried to stop him with lights and sirens just five minutes before the fatal collision.
The court heard ADHD and autism and was on an NDIS plan but the prosecutor said the boy had stopped taking his medication, instead self-medicating with prescribed cannabis.
