31-year-old dentist Patrick Mattu has been sentenced to two and a half years in jail for a car crash that left an off-duty police officer dead, reported.
Charged with culpable driving and dangerous driving, causing death, Mattu was found guilty of dangerous driving by the Latrobe Valley Country Court.
Accompanied by his wife and a friend, he was driving a borrowed four-wheel drive when he veered onto the wrong side of the road, killing 53-year-old Senior Constable Kate McLeod who was riding her motorcycle to Sale police station.
The trial was told the Indian national had driven to Melbourne the previous night and he had hardly slept in the 24 hours before the crash.
An expert witness said he probably fell into microsleep.
Mattu pleaded guilty to the charge of dangerous driving midway through his trial.
Judge John Smallwood said he would have to contest deportation if he wanted to stay in Australia after completing his sentence.
"You'll undergo this sentence knowing your wife will likely have to go back to India, she will likely be shunned by her family because she's married to a convicted criminal," Judge Smallwood said.
"I anticipate you'll fear your own deportation, on the face of it, a deportation order will be mandatory."
The judge said Mattu was a man of good character and had suffered severe depression since the crash.
"There was no alcohol, no speed, he thought he was all right, but he wasn't.
"In terms of moral culpability, there's a lot worse."
Patrick Mattu is from Ludhiana and came to Australia as a dentist after gaining his qualification from Punjab.
He will be eligible for parole in May 2018.
