DV offender jailed for five years over crash that killed ex-partner

The sister of a woman who was killed in a car crash has told the driver in court his "complete lack of regard for human life" led to her "preventable" death.

Rolong Stanley has been sentenced today in the Orange District Court to five years' jail after pleading guilty to aggravated dangerous driving near Orange that killed his ex-partner Justine Hammond on February 9, 2025.

The 32-year-old has been given a non-parole period of three years and seven months, which will expire on May 12, 2029.

Judge Penny Musgrave also took into account that Stanley drove an unregistered car with a defect notice, while he was disqualified from having a licence.

Ms Hammond's sister, Adrienne Hiko, told the court she travelled from New Zealand to "give a voice to my beautiful sister".

"What hurts the most is knowing that Justine's passing was entirely preventable,"

she said.

"Your choice to disregard the safety of others showed a complete lack of regard for human life.

"We have been handed the life sentence of pain," Ms Hiko told the court.

She described the 42-year-old as a "gentle and deeply compassionate soul," who was a mother, sister, aunt and daughter.

"No amount of time will ever bring Justine back," she said.

AVO breach at apple orchard

Judge Musgrave told the court Stanley should not have been with Ms Hammond at an apple orchard on the Sunday afternoon of February 9, and he should not have been drinking.

Stanley breached an apprehended domestic violence order (AVO) which prohibited him from contacting Ms Hammond or being within 500-metres of her.

He was originally charged with breaching that AVO, which was later dropped.

"He should not have been with the victim, it was a condition of his AVO that he not associate with her,"

Judge Musgrave said.

Stanley also breached an Intensive Correctional Order (ICO) which banned him from drinking.

He received that ICO as a sentence in December 2024 for other domestic violence offences against Ms Hammond. 

He was convicted of being armed with an intent to commit an offence, assault which caused bodily harm and possessing ammunition without a permit.

Judge Musgrave said his willingness to breach court orders placed "upward pressure" on his sentence.

Fatal crash

Judge Musgrave told the court Stanley's dangerous driving on Lake Canobolas Road put other motorists at risk.

After drinking cask wine in his Holden Rodeo at the orchard with Ms Hammond, Stanley drove the pair down the rural road.

Judge Musgrave told the court the route was "well used" by locals frequenting Lake Canobolas and vineyards, but was in poor condition without line markings.

"It is a road requiring the driver's care and attention," Judge Musgrave said.

Stanley lost control when the tyres hit the nature strip, rolled the car, hit an embankment and crashed into a tree.

Ms Hammond suffered fatal injuries including to her head, abdomen, chest and neck, and died at the scene.

Stanley was flown to Westmead Hospital in Sydney for further treatment, where tests found his blood alcohol concentration was four times greater than the legal limit.

Judge Musgrave said she found it "remarkable" that he had previously believed his alcohol consumption was not problematic, given the ICO and other drink driving offences.

She said a psychologists's report determined he had an alcohol use disorder and that he was motivated to engage in treatment. 

"The tragedy is that it has come to this point for him to drink and drive as he did," she said.

The Vanuatu national will be eligible for parole in May 2029.