'The pain does not go away': Ice-addict mum who continued to drive on drugs AFTER killing her son, 7, in meth-fuelled crash apologises in court
- Stacey Panozzo crashed into a tree in Adelaide in 2017, killing her son Jackson
- Her toddler daughter was thrown from car after she wasn't properly restrained
- Panozzo was high on meth when she crashed, leaving her with a brain injury
A mother who continued to drive while on drugs after killing her son in a road crash has apologised for her offending.
Stacey Brooke Panozzo, 35, was driving her three children home from a beach holiday in November 2017 when she smashed into a tree in Kuitpo, south of Adelaide.
Her seven-year-old twin son Jackson Levi Rayner was killed in the crash, and her toddler daughter was thrown from the vehicle after she was not properly restrained.
Her seven-year-old twin son Jackson Levi Rayner (pictured) was killed in the crash, and her toddler daughter was thrown from the vehicle after she was not properly restrained
Stacey Brooke Panozzo (pictured) was high on meth when she crashed into the tree in Adelaide in 2017
The drug addict, who suffered a brain injury in the smash, appeared in court on Tuesday where she apologised for her actions.
'There is not a day that goes by when I don't grieve over the loss that I have caused,' she said.
'The pain will not go away and will never go away.'
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She has breached her bail multiple times with failed drug tests and was caught driving under the influence of drugs again in May.
She had lost another child to SIDS a decade earlier with Mr Ey saying her previous trauma had caused her to use methylamphetamines.
The horror crash killed her son and threw her daughter from the vehicle, as Panozzo was left with a brain injury
Prosecutor Kelly Smith said Panozzo chose to drive her children while tired and under the influence of drugs.
'Her daughter was not properly restrained in her seat and consequently was thrown from the vehicle during the collision,' she said.
Ms Smith also said that the mother's drug use even after the death of her son showed 'real doubt' over her rehabilitation, and posed a threat to the community.
Panozzo pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and will be sentenced next month
The South Australian mother pleaded guilty through her lawyer in November 2018 to an aggravated count of causing death by dangerous driving and causing harm by dangerous driving in relation to the crash.
She is currently being held in protective custody due to the nature of her crime.
Panozzo could face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and will be sentenced next month.
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