Widow's grief over penalty
FAY Mammone is ready to meet - and maybe even forgive - the teenage motorist whose careless driving killed her fun-loving husband, who would have turned 40 today.
But she is struggling to accept a system that gave him only a $500 fine in court this week and let him keep his licence.
"If I pay $500 can I have him back please?" Mrs Mammone said.
Well-known concreter Peter Mammone died when Christopher Michael Kelly drove into the path of his Husqvarna TE510 motorcycle at the traffic lights at the intersection of Redlynch Connection Rd and Cairns Western Arterial Rd on March 27.
Mr Mammone had bought the bike brand new just three weeks earlier and was only riding it that day to clock up 100km for its first service.
On Wednesday, Kelly was fined $500 and allowed to keep his licence.
The Cairns Post was flooded with emails and text messages from readers angry about the sentence.
Mrs Mammone yesterday said she understood the tragedy was an accident but she could not accept that Kelly was allowed to continue driving.
"Five hundred dollars and no disqualification and he's back on the road," she said.
"Who's to say he won't do it again?
"I don't want him to go to jail. That wouldn't achieve anything. But there has to be some accountability."
Mrs Mammone said she harboured no ill-feelings towards Kelly and had offered through police to meet him.
"I do want to talk to him, show him all these photos of Peter," she said.
"And I wouldn't be cranky.
"We're all rational people and we're not out to cut his throat.
"I understand he's going to be living a nightmare.
"But I need closure."
She planned to campaign for the State Government to tighten the licensing process to arm young drivers with more experience and defensive driving skills.
"Young drivers aren't getting adequate training to get on the road," she said.
Mr Mammone, known in building circles as Pete the Concreter, would have celebrated his 40th birthday today.
"It would've been a massive party, nothing short of crazy," Mrs Mammone said.
His wife and friends described the towering tradie as a gentleman who loved his motorbikes, cars, four-wheel-driving, fishing, camping and any other adventurous pastime.
"He was loving life to the fullest, getting up each day and not daring to waste a second of it," Mrs Mammone said.
Close friend and employee Wayne Howson said Mr Mammone was an innovative man who made remote-controlled aeroplanes and bikes.
Mrs Mammone, a tourism consultant, said her husband's death happened when they were at the peak of their lives, having worked hard to afford trips and buy their dream home at Lake Placid and motorbikes.
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Cannot believe it: Fay Mammone was devastated by the death of her husband Peter.
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