Wife of hit-run cyclist Jason Stortz tells of her emptiness

By Emma Spillett
Updated November 6 2012 - 1:56am, first published April 14 2011 - 10:57am
Kylie Stortz leaves Wollongong Local Court after presenting her victim impact statement yesterday.
Kylie Stortz leaves Wollongong Local Court after presenting her victim impact statement yesterday.
Kylie and Jason Stortz, photographed with their son Harry, before tragedy struck.
Kylie and Jason Stortz, photographed with their son Harry, before tragedy struck.

"Jason is never, ever coming home" - those were the final words uttered in a moving statement read by cyclist Jason Stortz's widow Kylie in Wollongong District Court yesterday.Mrs Stortz read the statement during sentencing proceedings for a Dapto teenager found guilty in February of dangerous driving, causing Mr Stortz's death, on October 17, 2009.Mr Stortz, 39, was on a training ride when he was hit on Marshall Mount Rd by a Ford Falcon, driven by the teen.The 18-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was present when Mrs Stortz delivered her statement, telling the court the last time she saw her husband's body was at the morgue."I couldn't think of anything in the world more traumatic than the inexplicable sudden death of a husband and father," she said. "I can't believe how many tears I've cried and still cry every day, I don't know when a day will come when I don't cry."I still struggle to come to terms with the fact Jason will never come home, it's just so unbelievable."The pair's son Harry was just 16-months old when Mr Stortz was killed and despite his young age, Mrs Stortz said she believes her son knew something was different."Some mornings when I went to get little Harry out of his cot, he would have the saddest look in his eyes [as if he] knew something had happened," she said.Mrs Stortz also spoke of disbelief at the teenager's actions on the day of the incident."He didn't stop, he drove more than seven kilometres from the scene ... when he called triple-0, the nature of the call was mostly about him, not Jason, the person he had just killed," she said."To find out he was granted bail just before Christmas, it's as if humanity is out of balance ... it's difficult to comprehend how he has Christmas with his family when Jason's place at our family table is just an empty seat now and for always."The teen's mother also gave evidence, telling the court her son had been a difficult child who was diagnosed with ADHD at a young age and was only allowed to attend school if medicated.She said he started taking drugs and getting into trouble as a teenager before he was asked to leave the family home at age 16.She told the court her son lived on the street for six months but returned home in September 2009, having found a job and stopped doing drugs, just before the incident occurred."He's a man of very little words [so] it's hard to talk about that day [but I've] seen firsthand when he was up at night crying, not knowing how to cope with the feelings and guilt," she said."I feel he's improved his character and presentation since the [incident]; I know he's my son but I like him now and I didn't used to."Judge Paul Conlon reserved his sentencing judgment until April 19.

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