Former AFL player Shannon John Cox has been sentenced to more than a decade in prison after killing two elderly women in a head-on crash while under the influence of methamphetamine, with his young daughter in the car.
Cox, 39, pleaded guilty to unlawfully killing Thelma Clausen and Coral Seinor after falling asleep at the wheel and veering into oncoming traffic on June 7 2024.
The crash occurred on the Brand Highway, approximately 170 kilometres north of Perth.
The two women, both in their 80s and on their way to a Country Women’s Association event, sustained severe injuries in the collision and died at the scene.
Western Australia’s Supreme Court heard on Wednesday that Cox, who played 25 games for Collingwood between 2007 and 2009, had 0.77 milligrams per litre of methamphetamine in his system and was fatigued at the time of the crash.
Travelling in wet conditions at approximately 84km/h, Cox’s Toyota Prado struck a truck before colliding head-on with the Suzuki Ignis carrying Clausen and Seinor.
His 12-year-old daughter, Josephine, who was in the car with him, was also injured.
The court was told Cox had been driving from Geraldton to Perth to collect his wife from custody when the incident occurred.
He was sentenced to 10 years and six months’ imprisonment, with eligibility for parole after serving eight years and six months. His sentence has been backdated to October 25, 2024.
Upon release, Cox will be disqualified from driving for four years.
Cox, a father of two, began using methamphetamine and alcohol at the age of 13 following early exposure to drugs and violence, the court heard.
Football provided a sense of structure during his youth, though he did not learn to read until adulthood.
After relocating to Melbourne at age 20, Cox turned to alcohol to manage stress and developed a gambling habit. He later entered the mining industry following his football career.
In 2015, Cox began using significant quantities of methamphetamine and had previously served two years and six months for drug-related offences.
Justice Stephen Lemonis noted that Cox’s drug use escalated further about 18 months before the crash.
At the time of the fatal collision, Cox was already on a community-based order for drug-related charges. His arrest marked the third time in two years that he had been caught driving with methamphetamine in his system.
He also reoffended while on bail for the manslaughter charges.
“The impact of your offending has been devastating,” Justice Lemonis said.
“This offending has tragically come about because of your addiction to methamphetamine.”
Family members of both victims delivered emotional victim impact statements to the court.
Leanne Clausen described the loss of her mother Thelma as a source of deep grief and trauma for her family.
“Mum was the most selfless, kind-hearted and community-driven person,” she said.
“Her volunteering efforts were endless.”
Suzanne Seinor remembered her mother Coral as someone who “lived for those she loved and loved unconditionally.”
“You chose to drive a car with drugs in your system,” she said, addressing Cox directly.
“That choice resulted in taking two lives that weren’t yours to take.
“Your choice affected over a 1000 people, who were my mum and her friend’s family, loved ones and community.”
Images: 7NEWS
