<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Family of a mother of four who was hit by a car and left to die by her cold-blooded partner have vowed to fight for tougher laws against domestic violence.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Jacqui Purton, 37, was trying to leave a property in rural Tasmania on a night in March 2023 when she was struck by a white Holden Commodore driven by James Kenneth Austin.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The 40-year-old, who was initially charged with murder, was sentenced today to 13 years' jail after pleading guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/bat-lyssavirus-australian-man-dies-first-recorded-case-in-new-south-wales/5cd2ef02-10ad-446c-aaf4-22e18089feb5" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Australian man dies after contracting 'extremely rare' bat lyssavirus</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He will be eligible for parole after serving eight years.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Purton was walking down the property's 500m gravel driveway after an argument with Austin, who drove after her.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She was struck by the car, which was travelling at 20-30km/h, and dragged underneath, dying rapidly from significant injuries including a broken pelvis. </span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/tasmania-james-kenneth-austin-sentenced-after-driving-over-jacqui-purton-and-leaving-her-to-die/fa744162-7b06-4155-b695-c00a949d063b" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>In sentencing in the Supreme Court of Tasmania, Justice Michael Brett said Austin then went back to the house "leaving her to die".</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He returned to the car and put Purton on the back seat before driving back to the house and getting his dad to drive the car down to the road to meet an ambulance.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Purton had tried to call police earlier in the evening but couldn't get through because of poor reception in the area. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>When police called the house soon after the incident, Austin tried to divert them by saying Purton was not there and had gotten a ride home. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Your actions were cold-blooded, callous and selfish to an extent which is difficult to describe in words," Justice Brett said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Austin had previously threatened to kill Purton and was controlling and violent in their "on-and-off-again" relationship spanning four years. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was a family violence order aimed at preventing him from assaulting or abusing her.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE: </span></strong><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/food-delivery-restaurant-boom/132c90db-52c0-4ca5-aefd-5377dbaf5da1" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Restaurants reaping the benefits of food delivery surge</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Austin had previously driven a car at Purton when she tried to leave the property, but she had always managed to jump out of the way. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Justice Brett said Austin, whose sentence has been backdated to 2023 when he was taken into custody, did not intend to hit her on the night in question but wanted to frighten her. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"(But) she did not (jump out of the way) or could not do so. You did not brake despite seeing her in front of you," Justice Brett said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Purton has been remembered as a fun, bold and kind free spirit who was dedicated to her children and immediate family. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Speaking outside court, Purton's mother Leanne Walford and daughter Shakira Robertson pledged to continue to fight for reform to prevent domestic violence. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They said harsher penalties were needed for incidents involving cars being driven by people's current or former partners. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Walford said the full extent of domestic violence experienced by her daughter hadn't been revealed in court. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"She was more than a case file. Laws must be tougher because our numbers are going to keep going up," she said. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Justice Brett said Purton's death was a very serious example of manslaughter, family violence and breach of an order. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Support is available from the</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>National Sexual Assault, Domestic and Family Violence Counselling Service</span></strong><span> </span><strong><span>at</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.1800respect.org.au/" title="https://www.1800respect.org.au/"><strong><span>1800RESPECT (1800 737 732)</span></strong></a><strong><span>.</span></strong></div></div>