General News
5 May, 2023
Justice bid for sisters
The families of two elderly Horsham sisters killed in a road accident on Stawell Road in 2021 have this week lodged an appeal against the sentence handed to the truck driver who caused the deaths. Danny Kenneison, of Horsham, was convicted in...
The families of two elderly Horsham sisters killed in a road accident on Stawell Road in 2021 have this week lodged an appeal against the sentence handed to the truck driver who caused the deaths.
Danny Kenneison, of Horsham, was convicted in Melbourne County Court on April 14 of two cases of dangerous driving causing death, and three of dangerous driving causing injury.
He was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid community service to be carried out over three years. Mr Kenneison also had his licence disqualified for 18 months and ordered to undertake 50 hours of "treatment and rehabilitation".
A concrete truck driven by Mr Kenneison, then 52, slammed into the back of a vehicle driven by one of the deceased, Barbara Mackley, on October 8.
Mrs Mackley's white SUV then hit a red Holden sedan, seriously injuring a 64-year-old woman. All vehicles were travelling north on Stawell Road near the Williams Street intersection towards Horsham's business centre.
Mrs Mackley, 78, was driving her daughter Lyn, and sisters Fay and Joy, to celebrate her birthday when their car was hit.
Fay Barber, 79, of Horsham, died at the scene. Joy Wheaton, 80, of Nhill, was not badly hurt, but Mrs Mackley's daughter Lyn Mackley, 56, also of Horsham, was seriously injured.
The families say Mr Kenneison's sentence was too lenient considering the severity of the accident.
Mrs Mackley and husband Evan ran The Olde Horsham restaurant, on Stawell Road, for many years. Son Simon and daughter Lyn helped their mother run the business after Evan died. The business closed after Simon died.
Mrs Barber and husband Noel were farmers at Telopea, later moving to Horsham. Mrs Barber was much loved by many children she minded over many years. She also played the organ in Horsham Presbyterian Church.