A young Los Angeles basketballer will avoid a long prison sentence after pleading guilty to the fatal Hollywood hit-and-run of Australian Andrew Mallard.
Kristopher Smith, 20, was facing a four-year prison term in the case, but struck a plea deal with prosecutors.
Smith, during an appearance in a downtown LA courtroom on Thursday, agreed to serve 30 days of weekend detention at LA County Jail, 30 hours of community service and three years' probation.
Smith will also pay yet-to-be determined restitution to Mr Mallard's Perth-based family.
"Yes, your honour," Smith quietly replied when Judge James Dabney asked if he understood what he was agreeing to.
Mr Mallard's death was the final cruel twist in a tragic life for the 56-year-old from Perth.
The Australian man was wrongly imprisoned for 12 years over the 1994 death of Perth jeweller Pamela Lawrence.
His conviction was quashed by the High Court in 2005 and he received a $A3.25 million ex gratia payment and had been trying to move on with his life when he was struck by Smith's vehicle and left to die while crossing Sunset Blvd in Hollywood during the early hours of 18 April last year.
John Quigley holds up a letter of apology from WA police to Andrew Mallard in Perth, 2006. Mr Quigley is flanked by Mr Mallard's mother Grace and sister Jacqui. Source: AAP
Smith, who played basketball for Inglewood High School and East LA College, surrendered to the LAPD five days later.
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Smith entered guilty pleas on Thursday to one felony count of hit-and-run driving resulting in death or serious injury and one misdemeanor count of vehicular manslaughter without gross negligence.
He will be sentenced on 19 March.
Prosecutor Kristopher Gay told the court he expected a victim's impact statement from Mr Mallard's family would be read out in court at the sentencing.
