A former lawyer has been sentenced to eight years in prison after drinking over a litre of wine and subsequently causing the death of neuropsychologist Anthony Walsh in Adelaide in 2021. Lauren Willgoose, 33, was found guilty of his death last month and appeared at the South Australia District Court for her sentencing, shielded by her parents.
Christine Walsh, Anthony’s widow, attended the hearing, expressing her profound loss. “There are no winners,” she stated, highlighting the stark consequences of Willgoose’s actions — her husband is dead, and Willgoose will be separated from her own child during her time in prison. The court heard that Willgoose fled the accident scene, a move the judge condemned as “morally reprehensible.” Additionally, her attempt to argue that Anthony bore partial responsibility for his death due to crossing the road was dismissed.
In a twist of fate, Willgoose became pregnant in the months following the crash and pleaded for leniency, hoping to avoid incarceration. Emotional during the sentencing, she rocked back and forth and broke down in tears upon receiving the verdict. The court imposed a non-parole period of five years and eight months.
As Willgoose begins her term, friends and family of Anthony Walsh plan to gather at the restaurant near the accident site to remember and celebrate his life. Christine Walsh fondly remarked on her husband’s zest for life, stating, “He just loved life; he enjoyed everything about life.”