Family forgives Italian tourist Gabriele Cairo for ‘terrible mistake’ that caused triple fatal crash in South Africa’s Mid-North

An Italian tourist who caused a crash that killed three members of one family is a “good person and decent human being” who made a “catastrophic” mistake, a court has heard.

On Thursday, 29-year-old Gabriele Cairo was told in the District Court of South Australia that no victim statements had been provided to the court because family members felt no hostility towards him.

Cairo, who was on his honeymoon with his wife at the time of the horrific crash in South Africa’s Mid-North, wept quietly as he sat in the dock listening to prosecutor Leah O’Donnell describe the events of October 31, 2023.

Cynthia Clark, 84, her husband John Clark, 86, and the couple’s 54-year-old daughter Jacque Clark were killed in the crash.

Cairo has previously pleaded guilty to three counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one charge of causing serious harm by dangerous driving.

Ms O’Donnell told the court that Cairo, who was driving a rental camper at the time, was not speeding when he failed to yield and drove through the intersection of Templeton and Blyth roads at Everard Central.

The court heard he had no alcohol or drugs in his system and was not on his phone at the time of the crash.

“As a result, he collided with a vehicle occupied by the Clark family,” Ms O’Donnell said.

“Jacqueline Clark was the driver, she was almost certainly killed instantly.

“Cynthia Clark was the front passenger, although she survived the initial impact, she died at the scene shortly afterwards.

“John Clark was the rear passenger. He was transported to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, his injuries were non-survivable, he was given an extenuator and died on November 6, 2023.

“She (Cairo’s wife) was also transported to the Royal Adelaide Hospital. She was admitted for approximately three weeks after suffering serious head injuries, multiple fractures and a mildly collapsed lung.”

Ms O’Donnell said GPS data shows the camper “slowed down slightly before that intersection” and reached a minimum speed of 82km/h, but that it was “simply not enough time under the circumstances for the vehicle to to stop”.

Cairo is a “good man,” Judge says

Judge Paul Muscat said the crash, which happened almost a year ago, was an example of a mistake that led to “catastrophic consequences”.

“There is absolutely no doubt that we are dealing with a good man, a decent human being who unfortunately, due to a serious concentration disorder, ultimately cost the lives of three innocent people and seriously injured his own wife,” he said.

Cairo lawyer Michael Woods said his client could not remember why he did not admit it but accepted he was guilty.

“He says he will never forget Jacqueline, Cynthia and John Clark, their families and of course the tragedy that befell his wife on their honeymoon,” Woods said.

He asked Judge Muscat to suspend the prison sentence.

Ms O’Donnell said Cario’s lookout was “seriously flawed” and did not oppose a suspended prison sentence.

“We cannot say whether the suspect did not see the yield sign at all, or whether he saw the sign and did not see the oncoming vehicle,” she said.

The court heard the Clark family had no animosity towards Cairo.

“The deceased’s family were given the opportunity to (make victim impact statements to the court), they refused to participate in that process while making it clear… that there was no animosity towards the suspect,” Ms said O’Donnell.

‘Their lives have changed as much as ours’

Outside court, Clark family spokesman Jon Reinke said the family “did not feel it was appropriate” to make victim impact statements to the court.

“We believe that victim impact statements are for someone who intentionally did something and that’s bad,” Reinke said.

“In this case it was not his intention and we all agree with that.”

Mr Reinke said he was attending court on behalf of Paul Clark, the victims’ brother and son, and the wider family living abroad and interstate.

‘If he was a mean person, it would be a completely different point: you would throw the book at him.

“I spoke to him at length this morning ahead of the case and we have no animosity towards them whatsoever.

“They are just young people, they still have their lives ahead of them.”

Mr Woods also spoke outside court, saying his client is “extremely remorseful”.

“He has been thinking about the Clark family and their relatives the entire time and it has been a terrible situation for everyone involved,” he said.

Cairo will be sentenced next month.