Farm worker sentenced to five years for drunken crash that killed ex-girlfriend

In a NSW District Court hearing in Orange, Rolong Stanley was sentenced to five years’ imprisonment for the fatal crash that killed his ex-girlfriend, Justine Hammond, on Lake Canobolas Road in February 2025. The 31-year-old farm worker, originally from Vanuatu, had been subject to an apprehended domestic violence order since November 2024, which prohibited alcohol consumption and proximity to Hammond. Despite these conditions, he drove a ute while heavily intoxicated, with a blood-alcohol reading of 0.212, and lost control, striking a tree and causing catastrophic damage to the vehicle.

The court heard that Hammond, a mother of two, was dead on arrival, and her sister Adrienne Hiko delivered an emotional victim-impact statement from New Zealand. Judge Penny Musgrave highlighted Stanley’s disqualified driving status, the unregistered vehicle, and the dangerous rural road, assigning a non-parole period of three years and seven months. Stanley may face deportation after his release, and parole eligibility is set for May 2029.