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CrimeQuiet 11d · day 11

Watson sentenced to 10.5 years for fatal meth-fueled crash on Albany Highway

Disqualified driver high on methamphetamine jailed over head-on collision that killed Philippine-born worker in Western Australia.

newest coverage 11d agosummary written 7d ago3 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • Robert Dwayne Watson was disqualified from driving and on bail when he caused a fatal crash while high on methamphetamine, demonstrating flagrant defiance of court orders.
  • The crash killed 30-year-old Mako Dela Cruz Sotto, a recent Philippine immigrant who had arrived in Australia with his wife just months earlier.
  • Watson's 10.5-year sentence reflects both the severity of the offense and his extensive criminal history dating back to 1990, which the judge said outweighed any remorse he may have shown.

“They show that the serious offence did not occur against a background of otherwise unblemished conduct.”

Judge Alain Musikanth, WA Supreme Court judge · ABC Australia ↗

Robert Dwayne Watson Defendant, driverMako Dela Cruz Sotto VictimJudge Alain Musikanth WA Supreme Court judgeJules Sotto Victim's wife

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 3h at Oct 27, 11 PM; 3 pieces over 12 days (2 articles · 1 post) Oct 27, 11 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Google News 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 28, 2 AM — quietOct 28, 5 AM — quietOct 28, 8 AM — quietOct 28, 11 AM — quietOct 28, 2 PM — quietOct 28, 5 PM — quietOct 28, 8 PM — quietOct 28, 11 PM — quietOct 29, 2 AM — quietOct 29, 5 AM — quietOct 29, 8 AM — quietOct 29, 11 AM — quietOct 29, 2 PM — quietOct 29, 5 PM — quietOct 29, 8 PM — quietOct 29, 11 PM — quietOct 30, 2 AM — quietOct 30, 5 AM — quietOct 30, 8 AM — quietOct 30, 11 AM — quietOct 30, 2 PM — quietOct 30, 5 PM — quietOct 30, 8 PM — quietOct 30, 11 PM — quietOct 31, 2 AM — quietOct 31, 5 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — quietOct 31, 11 AM — quietOct 31, 2 PM — quietOct 31, 5 PM — quietOct 31, 8 PM — quietOct 31, 11 PM — quietNov 1, 1 AM — quietNov 1, 4 AM — quietNov 1, 7 AM — quietNov 1, 10 AM — quietNov 1, 1 PM — quietNov 1, 4 PM — quietNov 1, 7 PM — quietNov 1, 10 PM — quietNov 2, 1 AM — quietNov 2, 4 AM — quietNov 2, 7 AM — quietNov 2, 10 AM — quietNov 2, 1 PM — quietNov 2, 4 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 2, 10 PM — quietNov 3, 1 AM — quietNov 3, 4 AM — quietNov 3, 7 AM — quietNov 3, 10 AM — quietNov 3, 1 PM — quietNov 3, 4 PM — quietNov 3, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 10 PM — quietNov 4, 1 AM — quietNov 4, 4 AM — quietNov 4, 7 AM — quietNov 4, 10 AM — quietNov 4, 1 PM — quietNov 4, 4 PM — quietNov 4, 7 PM — quietNov 4, 10 PM — quietNov 5, 1 AM — quietNov 5, 4 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 10 AM — quietNov 5, 1 PM — quietNov 5, 4 PM — quietNov 5, 7 PM — quietNov 5, 10 PM — quietNov 6, 1 AM — quietNov 6, 4 AM — quietNov 6, 7 AM — quietNov 6, 10 AM — quietNov 6, 1 PM — quietNov 6, 4 PM — quietNov 6, 7 PM — quietNov 6, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quiet 1
Oct 28Oct 29Oct 30Oct 31Nov 1Nov 2Nov 3Nov 4Nov 5Nov 6now · 10:09 AM ET
  1. background

    Judge warns of severe consequences for drug driving — Judge Musikanth noted Watson's criminal record dating back to 1990, including reckless driving and drink driving offences, outweighed any remorse shown. The judge issued a warning to others about the consequences of driving under the influence of illicit drugs.

  2. 1

    Watson sentenced to 10.5 years for manslaughter

    WA Supreme Court sentenced Robert Dwayne Watson to 10 years and six months in prison after he pleaded guilty to manslaughter. The court heard Watson had 1.4 milligrams of methylamphetamine in his blood at the time of the crash, was disqualified from driving, and was on bail for an unrelated drug driving charge.

    “You made that decision with complete disregard for the safety of other road users. You crossed onto the wrong side of the road, travelled through the oncoming lane, crossed the rumble strip and entered the shoulder…”
    — Judge Alain Musikanth
    1. 2 outlets Court jails disqualified driver high on meth over fatal crash - ABC News & Headlines

      first by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 11d ago · also ABC Australia

      1 more headline
  3. background

    Watson's ute collides head-on with Sotto's car on Albany Highway — Robert Dwayne Watson, driving a Holden Rodeo ute while high on methamphetamine, veered into the northbound lane near Narrikup, striking 30-year-old Mako Dela Cruz Sotto's Nissan Micra. Sotto attempted to avoid the collision by moving to the road verge but was struck and killed. A passer-by found Sotto unresponsive after the collision.