Connor Mathiasson, 24, has been sentenced to a maximum of 11 years in jail, with a minimum of seven years, for culpable driving causing the death of Elise Hodder and negligently causing serious injury to two others. The incident occurred on October 13 last year outside a rave in Kooyong, Melbourne, when Mathiasson lost control of his Holden Commodore while pulling out of a parking spot. Ms Hodder, 24, a model and lifeguard, was killed at the scene after being crushed under the vehicle, while her friends sustained serious injuries. Mathiasson had a blood alcohol reading over four times the legal limit and tested positive for traces of cocaine and cannabis.
The court heard that Mathiasson expressed remorse after the crash, but Judge Robyn Harper described his actions as “overwhelmingly negligent” and catastrophic, noting the immeasurable grief caused to Ms Hodder’s family. Her father, Michael Hodder, called for stronger measures to deter young men from dangerous driving, highlighting systemic issues in legislation and deterrence. The judge acknowledged Mathiasson’s early guilty plea and remorse, but emphasised that no sentence could compensate for the loss suffered by Ms Hodder and the lasting damage to the lives of her friends.
