A judge has delivered a scathing assessment of a driver whose "maniac" actions while under the influence of drugs resulted in the death of 12-year-old Mia Rossiter. County Court Judge Michael Tinney described Jordan Kenyon, 31, as a "drug-affected, negligent and incompetent driver," stating it was only a matter of time before he killed someone.
Mia was killed on January 3, 2024, when Kenyon, who was under the influence of the party drug GHB, lost control of his vehicle and collided with the Rossiter family's car. The family was returning from dinner in Stonehaven, near Geelong, at the time of the crash. Mia was in the back seat with her seven-year-old sister, while their parents were in the front. Mia died at the scene, and her mother, father, and younger sister sustained serious injuries.
Judge Tinney referenced disturbing footage from weeks prior to the fatal crash, showing Kenyon driving erratically, swerving into oncoming traffic, and declaring himself the "best f***ing designated drunk driver in the world." The judge highlighted Kenyon's disregard for safety, noting his previous conviction for car theft and high-speed driving, which resulted in a six-year prison sentence. Kenyon was also driving without a license at the time of the fatal crash.
"You are a maniac on the 14th of December (2023)," Judge Tinney stated during the sentencing hearing. "Less than three weeks later, and a young girl is dead and her family changed forever. All because of you."
Kenyon was sentenced to 16 years imprisonment, with a non-parole period of 12 years. He has also been disqualified from driving for five years after his release. In the aftermath of the crash, Kenyon initially lied to police, falsely claiming he was not the driver and blaming a non-existent person. While acknowledging some remorse, Judge Tinney expressed skepticism about its genuineness and the likelihood of future behavioral change, citing Kenyon's history and previous parole breaches.
"There is some remorse, but I don't think that is going to be a large factor in your conduct in future," Judge Tinney told Kenyon. "Behaving in the fashion in the video on the 14th of December is incredible. I have every reason to believe there will be a high risk of serious offending when you're released from prison. I have no real reason to be optimistic."
Mia's father, Paul Rossiter, voiced his concerns outside the court, stating that Kenyon would likely offend again and expressing his dismay at the sentence. He described his daughter as having a "heart of gold" whose future was tragically cut short. Friends and family of the Rossiters were present in the courtroom, reacting with sobs and tears as the details of the crash were recounted.