A Monegasque court has sentenced a former International University of Monaco student to five years in prison for a drink-driving crash that claimed the lives of two of his classmates and left two others seriously injured, bringing a measure of closure to a tragedy that shocked the Principality…
As reported by Monaco Matin, Mirco P., a 24-year-old Finnish national, was convicted of aggravated manslaughter and aggravated involuntary injury over an accident that occurred in the early hours of 17 December 2023 (read earlier article here), at the exit of the Millennium Tunnel. Driving an Audi RS4 after a night out, he lost control of the vehicle at extreme speed, crashing into a low wall with an impact later estimated at 107 km/h.
The court heard that Mirco P. had spent the evening at a nightclub before driving four fellow students towards an after-party in Cap-d’Ail. In the minutes leading up to the collision, he reportedly accelerated sharply and carried out dangerous manoeuvres on Monaco’s roads. Medical tests taken several hours after the crash revealed a blood alcohol level of 1.87 g/L, far above the legal limit.
Two passengers were killed instantly, while two others survived with severe injuries that have permanently altered their lives. During the hearing, emotional testimony from victims’ relatives underlined the lasting impact of the crash, with one family member describing the steering wheel as a “weapon” in the driver’s hands.
Although prosecutors had sought a six-year sentence, judges opted for five years’ imprisonment and issued an immediate arrest warrant. The verdict, delivered after brief deliberations, was met with quiet relief by the victims’ families, marking a sombre reminder of the devastating consequences of reckless and intoxicated driving.
