Repeat drink driver who killed innocent motorist on Gooramadda Road cries as victim's family tell court of pain

Christopher David McGrath, 27, slammed into Andrew Watkin’s oncoming vehicle on Gooramadda Road on January 13 last year.

McGrath had been on the wrong side of the road, speeding at between 137km/h and 147km/h, and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.083 about an hour-and-a-half later.

He was a learner who had lost his licence for drink-driving in NSW in September 2014 and was still disqualified at the time of the crash.

McGrath sobbed and breathed heavily in the Wodonga County Court on Monday as Mr Watkin’s mother said she had lost all joy in her life.

“My life is filled with overwhelming sadness since the death of my son Andrew,” Margaret Maroney said in a victim impact statement.

“My life will never be the same without my son.

“I have lost the joy in life.”

Ms Maroney said she had been in so much pain when she heard the news, her legs had become paralysed.

Mr Watkin is her second son to die in a car crash.

The 41-year-old’s sister, Rachael, said she felt isolated, lost and cried for hours each day for months after the incident.

Another sister, Patricia Maroney, said there was now a massive hole in the family.

“After his death, I no longer see life the same,” she said.

“For me, life has a very dark side to it now.

“If only he had been travelling on the road a minute or so later he would be (alive).”

Judge Geoffrey Chettle said McGrath’s decision to drive after “steady, solid drinking”, while unlicensed and having been previously caught drink driving, was “insane”.

McGrath’s own defence lawyer, Andrew Purcell, shared a similar sentiment.

“This incident is shocking, and shocking for the Watkin family in particular,” he said. 

The judge noted McGrath had hit 190km/h before the crash and was egged on by his passenger, Samuel Petrie, who was badly injured. 

McGrath will learn his jail term on Tuesday.