A speeding driver who crashed and killed his motorsport-loving mate has been taken into custody to await a jail sentence.
Lambros Megarhiotis, 39, was found guilty by a jury of dangerous driving causing the death of Matthew Vassilakis as he clocked up to 102km/h in a 50km/h zone at Clarinda in February 2017.
He swerved after he "perceived something" on the road and slammed into a pole, his lawyer Sam Tovey told the County Court on Friday.
"It has had the most catastrophic outcome in this case."
Mr Vassilaki's older brother Peter told the court his mother visits the cemetery nearly every day to be with her son.
"We will never forget what happened to him on this night. This event is absolutely devastating. That numbness, shock, disbelief, this has stayed there," he said, holding back tears.
Another brother, John, who suffers cerebral palsy and requires full-time care, still calls out for his dead sibling.
He does not understand, Peter said.
Vasilis Pagomenos, a friend of Mr Vassilakis and brother-in-law to Megarhiotis, said the crash had caused much sorrow.
"(Megarhiotis) would give anything to try to reverse it or for him to be the one who lost his life that night," Mr Pagomenos said, adding that they shared a close group of friends who enjoyed motorsport.
Prosecutor Richard Pirrie said Megarhiotis had collected his car five hours before the crash from a garage where it had undergone modification.
He was not fatigued or under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time.
"It was close to flat to the floor," he he said of the throttle at the time of the crash.
"It was a deliberate and conscious decision to accelerate."
Mr Tovey called for "leniency and mercy" with a jail sentence supplemented by a considerable amount of time on parole.
"It is going to be his first time in a custodial sentence," he said.
"He has genuine and ongoing remorse."
Megarhiotis will be sentenced at a future date.
Australian Associated Press
