An 18-year-old has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for offenses that include culpable driving causing death and an earlier violent assault. The sentence, handed down on Tuesday by the Victorian County Court, includes a non-parole period of four years and six months.
In the early hours of May 18, 2025, the then-16-year-old, driving drunk and without a license in a stolen SUV, ran a red light and collided with another vehicle. The crash, which occurred at an intersection in Tarneit, a suburb of Melbourne, sent his own vehicle spinning into a pole. The driver of the other car, who had been released on probation nine days prior, was ejected and suffered pelvic injuries. A rear passenger in the offender's vehicle, 16-year-old Kevin Lomena-Olenga, sustained a traumatic head injury and later died in hospital. His mother, Bora Mireye, has spoken of her ongoing grief and established a GoFundMe page to help cover funeral expenses, which has raised nearly $10,000.
The offender pleaded guilty to charges of culpable driving causing death, unlicensed driving, and theft.
Months prior to the fatal crash, in February 2025, the same teenager was involved in a violent assault that resulted in a permanent disability for Valentino Arop. The incident occurred in the car park of a Flemington housing tower. After an argument, the then-juvenile struck Mr. Arop, who was in his 30s, causing a severe brain injury. Mr. Arop was placed in a coma and now requires assistance with daily tasks. The court noted that the offender continued to assault Mr. Arop while he was unconscious on the ground, describing the actions as "cowardly and inhumane."
Chief Judge Amanda Chambers stated that the offenses could not be forgotten, given that "a life was lost and another was irrevocably altered." While the offending predates Victoria's 'adult time for violent crime' laws, the Crown prosecutor argued for an adult sentence due to the severity of the consequences. The defense highlighted the offender's difficult childhood, including a mother struggling with substance abuse and homelessness, and an absent father. The offender also sustained a significant brain injury from a separate car crash in 2023.
The offender, who cannot be identified as he was a minor at the time of the incidents, has acknowledged the consequences of his actions. Judge Chambers recommended that the Adult Parole Board consider transferring the 18-year-old, who has already served 383 days in pre-sentence detention, to a youth detention facility.