Mourning mum sobs as ‘callous’ driver jailed for crash

A driver who was driving at twice the speed limit before the horrific crash that killed two brothers has been suspended and sentenced to nine years in prison.

Johnson Kokozian, 23, was taking friends for a ride in his brand-new SUV when he tried to overtake a car at Heckenberg in Sydney’s south-west in 2023.

The suspended driver crashed head-on into a car containing two brothers when he drove the Mercedes-Benz AMG onto the wrong side of the road at twice the 50km/h speed limit.

He was unable to stop and help 24-year-old Alina Kauffman and 15-year-old Ernesto Salazar, who were reported dead at the scene.

Instead, Kokozian fled the scene and focused on destroying the uninsured luxury car, declaring that flipping the car meant $300,000 was lost.

“I am being locked up for a long time,” he wrote.

NSW District Court Judge David Arnott said on Wednesday that Kokozian’s behavior during and after the September 1 crash amounted to an “abdication of moral responsibility.”

As he left the scene, he was more worried about the money he lost by crashing his brand new car than the health of the passengers in the other car he passed.

Judge Arnott said: “His failure to stop and render assistance can only be described as serious and callous.”

“There is no doubt that self-preservation and personal interest were important factors in his decision to flee the scene.”

Although Kokozian did not show any remorse following the crash, the judge found that he now suffers from “a great deal of guilt.”

Originally charged with manslaughter, he eventually pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated dangerous driving resulting in death and two counts of failure to render aid following a fatal collision.

He was sentenced to nine years in prison with a minimum term of six years and six months.

The victim’s mother looked upset as the verdict was announced.

Angelina Kauffman constantly advocated for justice for her two children throughout the long legal process.

Ms. Kauffman was overcome with emotion as she emerged from the courthouse wearing a sweater with a photo of her children on it.

“There is no justice,” he said between sobs.

“My children’s lives mean nothing to the court.”

It has collected more than 20,000 signatures for a petition demanding the NSW Parliament consider increasing maximum penalties for serious road offences.

The next Law Reform Commission review, which concluded in February, found that penalties for serious road offenses were appropriate and that higher maximum sentences were unlikely to do any more to deter crime.

The review decided that a new charge of vehicular manslaughter should not be introduced as it was unnecessary and could cause confusion.