A young mother who was sleep deprived and high on drugs when she caused a crash that killed a tourist feels sick over the accident, her lawyer has told a court.
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Storm Cecilia Tientjes pleaded guilty in May to causing death by negligent driving over the crash on a highway in southeast Tasmania on the morning of Good Friday, 2023.
The 27-year-old was behind the wheel when she crossed to the wrong side of the road and collided with a car driven by Rishab Jaiswal, who tried to take evasive action.
Mr Jaiswal's wife Shadari Athrey was thrown from the car and died at the scene.
The pair, who had been married for just over a year, arrived in Tasmania a day earlier on holiday from Queensland.
Tientjes' lawyer Fabiano Cangelosi told the Supreme Court of Tasmania she should serve the shortest possible non-parole period because of her good prospects for rehabilitation.
"She feels sick over what she has done," Mr Cangelosi said during a sentencing hearing on Friday.
"She can only hope that the family is at some point able to move forwards ... and hopes that she could move forward."
Tientjes, who was remanded in custody, is expected to be sentenced on August 13.
Mr Cangelosi said Tientjes' exhaustion at the time of the crash was because she had no stable accommodation.
She didn't have prescribed medication on the day and was using cannabis as part of her normal way of coping with post-traumatic stress disorder and ADHD.
Tientjes, who was driving with a friend and their young child, was in the area visiting a fisherman in the hope of finding work, Mr Cangelosi said.
"Essentially on that day she was looking forward to sleeping on a bed - she was exhausted," he said.
Tientjes is doing a bridging university course while in prison and plans to study law, Mr Cangelosi said.
"This is a person who has the drive to want to do well and intelligence to do well," he said.
"She understands ... a sentence of imprisonment (will be imposed) and that is fair."
Tientjes has also pleaded guilty to other charges relating to the crash, including having methylamphetamine in her system while driving, reckless driving and possessing a bong and glass pipe.
She also pleaded guilty to smoking inside a car while a child is present, driving without a licence, altering a number plate and using an unregistered car.
Australian Associated Press
