John Tsalapatis has been sentenced to three years in custody for causing a crash which killed schoolteacher Bernice Sternberg — but will serve the term on home detention.An Adelaide man who caused a fatal crash at a McLaren Vale intersection has avoided jail — but a judge has ordered he serve a three-year sentence at home.
Tsalapatis drove through a McLaren Vale intersection in 2021 without giving way despite two warning signs, on a clear day with fine conditions.In sentencing on Wednesday, District Court Judge Nick Alexandrides said he accepted Tsalapatis struggled with "profound guilt" and "excessive rumination""Your remorse however does not involve taking responsibility… which caused the death of another and harm to two others," Judge Alexandrides said.
"It was said that the work you would be involved in would be lost if you were incarcerated — or significantly affected if you were to serve your sentence on home detention."While granting home detention, Judge Alexandrides asked Tsalapatis if he understood the orders — but the 59-year-old stared blankly ahead until he eventually nodded when prompted to respond by the court sheriff.