A man showed no remorse after deliberately hitting and killing a doctor with his car in a serious violent act, a judge says.
Thomas Hill was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Tuesday after pleading guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Dunne, who was struck by a vehicle at Tarragindi, in Brisbane's south, in February 2019.
Justice Michael Copley said Dr Dunne had been on his usual early morning jog when he had the misfortune of running into Hill, who had a persistent belief his neighbours were out to get him.
Hill and his mother had been returning home from interstate when Dr Dunne passed them.
Hill's mother thought Dr Dunne called her son "an idiot or something".
Hill became angry and decided to confront Dr Dunne.
Dr Dunne posed no threat, but Hill decided to use his car as a weapon and accelerate into the doctor, causing him to fall onto the road and hit his head with considerable force.
Justice Copley said Hill showed no remorse when he failed to stop and help Dr Dunne, who died six weeks later in hospital.
After the crash, police installed listening devices in the car Hill and his mother had been living in for months to avoid their supposedly vindicative neighbours.
In the recordings, Hill blamed Dr Dunne, claiming if he had kept the "idiot" comment to himself he would still be alive.
Hill said Dr Dunne had "picked on the wrong person" and criticised his mother for not helping him.
Justice Copley sentenced Hill on the basis he intended to cause serious harm to Dr Dunne but his capacity to know not to do it was substantially impaired.
Psychologist reports identified Hill was suffering from schizophrenia.
Hill's illness contributed to his delusions that he was under constant persecution and harassment by his neighbours, the court was told.
Justice Copley said the "serious violent offence" that caused Dr Dunne's death warranted a sentence higher than 10 years but lessened it due to Hill's mental state.
Dr Dunne's family declined to speak outside Brisbane Supreme Court.
Justice Copley recognised the impact of the doctor's death on loved ones during sentencing.
Dr Dunne's family gave an insight into their suffering in victim impact statements read in court last week.
"This was not necessary. This was preventable. This was senseless," Dr Dunne’s sister Lisa McKay told the court in her statement.
Dr Dunne's daughters Claire and Kate said they felt robbed of the future memories to be made with their father.
"Life moves on and I am stranded, frozen as I watch it pass me by," Claire said.
"I really, really miss my dad."
Hill will be eligible for parole after serving 80 per cent of his 10-year term.
He has been in custody since April 2019 while undergoing numerous mental health assessments.
