The devastated parents of 21-year-old Abbey Sheriff, who was killed in a car accident caused by a drug driver, expressed some relief after the woman responsible for their daughter’s death pleaded guilty. Evie Butterworth, 30, was driving at high speeds while under the influence of drugs when she crashed into Sheriff’s car on the Kwinana Freeway in January 2023. Sheriff’s parents, Julie and Darren, were called their daughter their “miracle baby” due to fertility issues prior to her birth.
Butterworth pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Stirling Gardens Magistrate Court, with a driving under the influence charge being dropped as it was covered by the manslaughter charge. State prosecutor Elisabeth Noonan confirmed this. Julie and Darren Sheriff expressed relief that they were one step closer to getting justice for Abbey, after waiting for over 15 months since the incident occurred. They criticized the legal process, feeling that they were in limbo and that the accused kept getting bail and remanded.
The tragic accident occurred when Butterworth, under the influence of cocaine, cannabis, and methamphetamine, crashed into Abbey Sheriff’s Nissan X-Trail, resulting in her death at the scene. The devastated parents are now hopeful that the guilty plea will lead to justice being served for their daughter. The couple had been through a long and difficult journey since Abbey’s death, and the guilty plea was a small relief for them in their quest for closure.
Julie and Darren Sheriff expressed their frustration with the legal process, feeling that they could not win regardless of the outcome. The accused had been granted bail and remanded, adding to the stress and uncertainty that the couple had been experiencing since the tragic loss of their daughter. The guilty plea by Butterworth was seen as a positive step forward in the pursuit of justice for Abbey, and the Sheriff family is hopeful that this will bring them closer to closure.
The long road to justice for Abbey Sheriff has been a challenging one for her parents, as they navigated the legal system in the aftermath of their daughter’s tragic death. The guilty plea by Evie Butterworth was a step in the right direction for the Sheriff family, as they continue to seek closure and justice for their daughter. Despite the challenges and frustrations they have faced, Julie and Darren Sheriff remain determined to see justice served in memory of their “miracle baby.”
The emotional toll of losing their daughter in such a tragic and senseless accident has taken a heavy toll on Julie and Darren Sheriff, who have been longing for closure and justice since Abbey’s death. The guilty plea by Evie Butterworth brought some relief to the grieving parents as they continue to navigate the legal process in pursuit of justice for their daughter. The Sheriff family remains committed to honoring Abbey’s memory through their pursuit of justice, as they move forward in their journey towards healing.
