No sentence would be enough to ''bring our Ruby back'', the Marris family said after the tourist responsible for the 5-year-old's death was jailed for 18 months. Ruby Jay Marris was killed when Chinese national Jing Cao, 32 crossed the centre line in his rented Ford Ranger on State Highway 1 near Moeraki on February 21, and smashed into the Marris family's station wagon. Following Cao's emotional sentencing in the Dunedin District Court yesterday, Ruby's parents Tristan and Kimberley told media the Government needed to toughen regulations around the leasing of rental cars. Source: Otago Daily Times/Youtube
The tourist driver who caused the death of Oamaru 5-year-old Ruby Marris is appealing his jail sentence.
Jing Cao (32), of China, was jailed for 18 months by Judge Kevin Phillips in the Dunedin District Court on Tuesday, for dangerous driving causing the death of Ruby.
Cao crashed into theMarris family's station wagon in his rented Ford Ranger on February1 near Moeraki.
The scene of the crash.
An appeal against the sentence was lodged with the Christchurch High Court yesterday.
When contacted by the Otago Daily Times yesterday, defence counsel Anne Stevens confirmed the appeal had been lodged. She referred all comment to Cao's solicitor Kane Wang.
Jing Cao in the dock at the Dunedin District Court.
Mr Wang said yesterday afternoon he could not comment without the approval of his legal partner in Auckland.
When contacted later, he said: ''It's outside work hours, so I probably can't talk to you now''.
The Marris family asked for time to process the news when contacted yesterday.
Kimberley and Tristan Marris with their daughters Georgia, 9, Sophie, 7, and Ruby, 5.
In April, Cao pleaded guilty to one charge of dangerous driving causing death and five charges of dangerous driving causing injury.
Cao had driven on the wrong side of the road for more than 400m when he collided with the Marris family's car in February.
Ruby's parents, Tristan and Kimberley, suffered serious injuries from the crash and her sisters, Georgia (9) and Sophie (7), sustained moderate injuries.
In addition to his jail sentence, Cao was ordered to pay $27,500 emotional harm reparation to the Marris family and further reparations of $34,390.
A High Court registrar said the appeal was lodged in Christchurch but was transferred to the High Court at Dunedin.
