He was driving a fully-laden water tanker to a fuel reduction burn that had skipped control lines outside Marysville.

Michael Tinney, SC, prosecuting, said Beckett later told investigators he panicked when he saw the van and tried to avoid it.

Mr Tinney said it was the Director of Public Prosecutions' position that Beckett should not receive any form of a jail sentence given the unique circumstances of the case.

Defence counsel Robert Richter, QC, said the request by Angela's family that Beckett not be jailed was dignified and humane, while his client's level of moral culpability was minimal.

But in his sentencing today, Judge Les Ross there were few crimes that caused such suffering as dangerous driving causing death.