UPDATE

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has lodged an appeal against the inadequate sentence handed down to drug driver Robert Gawdat Shashati.

Attorney General Mark Speakman confirms to Ray Hadley his request for an appeal has been accepted by the DPP.

In a statement he writes:

“I can confirm that the Office of the Director Of Public Prosecutions has lodged an appeal in this matter of the grounds of manifest inadequacy of the sentence.

“It’s not appropriate to make any further comment given the matter is again before the court.”

A grieving family has been left devastated after the drug driver who killed their son was let off with a slap on the wrist.

Seven-year-old Marcus Shashati was tragically killed when his drug-using uncle Robert Gawdat Shashati drove off the road and crashed into a ditch in 2015.

Little Marcus was wedged between his two brothers in the backseat at the time of the crash.

Shashati, who admitted to smoking ice on the day of the incident, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death, but not guilty to a charge that he was substantially impaired.

A Newcastle District Court jury rejected that and found him guilty of the more serious charge.

On Friday, Shashati was sentenced to just two years and three months behind bars after claiming he is seeking help for his drug problems.

Marcus’ devastated step-father Rob tells Ray Hadley it’s nowhere near enough.

“At the end of the day, he killed a 7-year-old-boy with ludicrous actions and he sits there… behind God and he pretends that he’s rehabilitated.

“Where’s the proof that he actually has gone to rehabilitate himself?

“At the end of the day this grub took methamphetamine, drove with four kids in the car, [and] drove off the road.”

Click PLAY below to hear from the heartbroken family

Image: Facebook