WARNING: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers are advised this story contains images of people who have died.
A Sunshine Coast family is reeling after the man who killed 12-year-old Dawlon Smith-Saunders in a drunk driving crash was granted parole less than three years after the incident.
Dawlon was fatally struck on 3 September 2023 by Nicholas Alan Semler-Mitaros, who ran a red light while the boy was using a green pedestrian crossing in Bli Bli.
The child died in hospital two weeks later, just shy of his 13th birthday.
Mr Semler-Mitaros, a P-plate driver with an extensive criminal history, had been exceeding the speed limit by 27km/h and was over the alcohol limit, breaching the zero-alcohol condition of his probationary licence.
He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and driving over the general alcohol limit, receiving a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence in August 2024.
Letitia Smith, Dawlon's older sister, revealed on 2 February that Semler-Mitaros had been granted parole.
She posted the update to a Sunshine Coast community page, describing the decision as "reopening a wound that never truly healed".
She said her family had spent "countless hours" advocating for justice, pushing for the offender to serve at least 75 per cent of his sentence in custody.
A community petition to delay his release previously gained significant support.
"This decision comes less than three years after my brother was killed by someone who chose to drive under the influence, chose to drive dangerously, chose not to stop and assist, and who went on to reoffend days later," Ms Smith wrote.
She said their efforts were not just for Dawlon, but for all victims and families who "deserve better".
The community's response was a source of strength for the grieving family.
"Knowing that so many people cared enough to speak up for my brother and for accountability made an unbearable loss feel less isolating," Ms Smith wrote.
She said Dawlon would have been proud of the support shown.
"I know my brother would be beaming with happiness knowing how much the Sunshine Coast community has rallied, supported, and fought for him," she said.
"His smile would have lit up the room, just as your love and care have lifted us through this journey."
Ms Smith told 7NEWS that receiving the call about the parole decision left her "numb".
"He was just finding his feet in life," Ms Smith said.
"How in the world could our justice system be like this?"
She pointed to what she viewed as double standards in sentencing.
"Yeah, the Premier put out a call for harsher sentences on youth. But I mean, look, we have adults here killing our youths and you get four and a half years. What? That's a joke," she said.
Semler-Mitaros' parole conditions include mandatory sobriety, electronic monitoring and a non-contact order with the victim's family.
Ms Smith said she hopes to meet the man who killed her brother one day.
"And I want him to know what pain he's done to us," she said.
National Indigenous Times has contacted Parole Board Queensland for comment.
