The friends and family of a Queensland teenager killed in a hit-and-run have packed out a courthouse to witness the driver being sentenced.
Fifteen-year-old Nilly Mooney died in the Mackay suburb of Beaconsfield in March.
Jessica May Goulding pleaded guilty to failing to remain at the scene after striking Nilly and fleeing.
Nilly's family spoke out as Goulding's lawyer told the court his client had spent her 30th birthday in custody.
"Nilly spent her 16th at the cemetery," a person in the public gallery said.
Speaking outside court, Nilly's aunt Jo-Anne Rudall said the family had endured seven months of "pain and despair".
"A beautiful, blossoming life was taken away," she said.
Nilly's mother, Tania Rudall, said she was glad Goulding had been sentenced.
"We're just glad the justice has been started and she's finally in custody, where she should be," she said.
Passenger 'told Goulding to leave'
Prosecutor Chelsea Pearson told the Mackay Magistrates Court that Nilly was walking along Nicklin Drive after a party when she was struck at about 3:00am.
"She'd lost her mobile phone and went to look for it," Ms Pearson said.
"She'd been in the middle of the street … when she was struck."
Ms Pearson said Goulding pulled over, hysterical, but drove away after her passenger told her to leave.
The passenger, and the car behind them, stayed at the scene.
"An inspection of the scene revealed a number of small scrape marks along the drive in the centre line of the road," Ms Pearson said.
"There were no tire marks, no vehicle debris at the scene of the crash, indicating the pedestrian was possibly lying down at the time of impact."
Ms Pearson told the court Goulding had said she had swerved and slowed down to avoid hitting a dog when she then saw someone lying in the middle of the road, but did not have time to react.
Dozens of charges
A tearful Goulding appeared via video link today on more than 30 charges, including failing to remain at an incident and render assistance.
Goulding, who was on Supreme Court probation for drug offences, turned herself in to police about 12 hours after the incident, on the afternoon of March 1.
She was granted bail.
The court heard Goulding had committed a number of other offences, including possessing dangerous drugs and stealing, between May and August 2020, when she was apprehended by police.
Defence lawyer Corey Cullen said Goulding had cooperated with police and entered guilty pleas.
Magistrate Ron Muirhead sentenced Goulding to a total of three years prison, to be released on parole after serving one.
