A man who ran down two teenagers in a late night hit-and-run incident has apologised, and is unlikely to be sent to full-time jail.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Thiago Tonti Fanti, 36, pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing grievous bodily harm by hitting the two men as they walked home through Braddon after a night partying in Civic in February.
The pair were walking along the road about 5am, with their backs to the oncoming traffic.
Justice Hilary Penfold heard Brazilian-born Fanti is living in Australia as a temporary resident and paying child support costs to his former partner for care of their two-year-old daughter.
The house painter reported himself to police after seeing in the media CCTV vision of the incident, which put Navjot Sekhon and Kyah ''Burma'' Han in hospital.
Driving a ute with a Brazilian-issued drivers license, he told investigators he had not realised he had hit a person.
Mr Han had to be airlifted to a Sydney hospital for specialist care for his a broken neck and spine, and brain injury. Mr Sekhon suffered minor injuries.
Fanti told the court he felt "terrible" about the incident and had been left with two broken legs after a car accident as a young man in Sao Paulo.
"I feel very bad all year," he said. "I feel very bad, sick."
He has been treated for depression and alcoholism since reporting himself to police and the court heard he had shown significant remorse for his actions.
Fanti has sought to apologise to Mr Han in person and wrote a letter of apology.
The court heard he had very good prospects of rehabilitation after seeking counseling from Directions ACT. He said he needed a driver's license to run his painting business, and had work booked into next year.
Justice Penfold said she would consider Fanti's immigration status in sentencing, as he would likely face deportation if sentenced to more than 12 months jail.
She said it was unlikely Fanti would face a full-time prison sentence, and that periodic detention could be suitable.
The case will return to the ACT Supreme Court on January 8, when Fanti will be sentenced.