Husband shares message of hope for teen jailed over wife’s death
Rosemary Franzidis, 69, was killed when a stolen car driven by an unlicensed, drug-affected teenager crashed into her vehicle in Brisbane in November 2024. At the teenager’s manslaughter sentencing, her husband, Jean-Paul, spoke of his grief and said he hoped the young man would one day find someone who loved him as Rosemary had loved her husband.
The driver, who was 16 at the time, received a seven-and-a-half-year sentence, reduced by half after the judge considered his guilty plea, remorse, rehabilitation prospects and experience of domestic violence. He had consumed methamphetamines and cannabis and was driving at more than 130km/h; he had also pleaded guilty to other offences. With 706 days already served, he will be eligible for parole by mid-2028.
- Rosemary Franzidis died in a crash involving a stolen car.
- Her husband offered the teenage driver a compassionate message.
- The driver received a reduced sentence and may be eligible for parole in mid-2028.
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In Queensland, manslaughter is a crime in which a person causes someone’s death unlawfully but without the legal finding of murder. Sentencing takes account of the circumstances of the offence and the individual, including any guilty plea and prospects for rehabilitation.
Rosemary Franzidis was killed in a collision in Brisbane in November 2024. The driver was 16, unlicensed and under the influence of drugs; he was driving a stolen car. Her husband, Jean-Paul, spoke at the sentencing about his loss and their relationship.
The case involves questions about punishment, public safety and the possibility of rehabilitation when a young person commits a serious crime. Queensland’s parole system can allow a prisoner to be considered for release after serving part of a sentence; eligibility does not guarantee release.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Grieving widower’s heartfelt message to the unlicensed and drug-affected teenage driver who killed his wife”.