“You were gone too soon, like a shooting star.” 

The 25-year-old teacher died in a two-car crash at the intersection of Camooweal and Zena Streets on Saturday, May 2, 2015. 

The student’s victim impact statement was among several read in the Mount Isa District Court on Wednesday. 

The defendant was Thomas Piovesan, 20, who pleaded guilty to the dangerous operation of a motor vehicle that caused death while under the influence of alcohol, and  to drink driving. 

Director of Public Prosecutions prosecutor Elizabeth Kelso said that Piovesan was speeding and had not given way to the car which had Ms Mellick and partner Stewart Corner in it. 

Piovesan, a provisional driver, also had a blood alcohol reading of 0.119, Ms Kelso said. 

She gave an overview of Ms Mellick as someone who aspired to be a dance teacher who had grown up on her family farm in Atherton. 

Ms Mellick’s first position after graduating at Griffith University was as a Barkly Highway State School teacher, which she began in 2013.

She was described as “beautiful, friendly and kind”. 

“I cry every day for her and what she is going to be denied,” her mother wrote. 

Judge Ian Dearden sentenced Piovesan to three and a half years imprisonment. 

Piovesan will serve nine months in prison. The rest of the sentence will be suspended for four years. If he commits another criminal offence in that time he would serve the remainder of the sentence. His licence was suspended for two years. 

Barrister Dennis Lynch, representing Anderson Telford Lawyers, said that Piovesan showed remorse for his actions as soon as the crash happened. 

Piovesan asked a police officer to shoot him at the scene, Mr Lynch said. 

“He became hysterical, calling himself a murderer.”