He was also previously charged with two counts of culpable driving causing death, but the charges have since been withdrawn after he pleaded guilty to the dangerous driving charges on the eighth day of a trial.
Sheridan was in the front passenger seat and Billy was in the back of a highly modified 1985 VK Holden Commodore Cartledge was driving on the Murray Valley Hwy on January 14, 2024.
Cartledge, who was 23 at the time, accelerated heavily on the highway, causing the back wheels to spin and lose traction.
He lost control of the car on the highway between Mt Terrick Rd and Wharparilla Dve, causing it to cross on to the wrong side of the road, down an embankment, colliding with trees and catching fire.
Sheridan and Billy died at the scene, while Cartledge was flown to the Royal Melbourne Hospital.
In sentencing him, Judge Michael McInerney said Sheridan and Billy’s tragic deaths occurred because of Cartledge’s “intentional, dangerous driving”.
“I would disavow the use of the term accident,” he said.
“He indulged in heavy acceleration of the car he was driving.”
Judge McInerney acknowledged Cartledge was driving dangerously for three seconds because he began braking after 60m of power skidding.
“Due to the torque, lack of traction, rotation and type of car, those three seconds were a deadly three seconds,” he said.
He said he accepted excessive speed wasn’t a factor, and no-one could estimate what speed the car was travelling when the power skid began.
However, Judge McInerney said the car was travelling at more than 100km/h when it collided with the trees.
“The court has struggled to determine the motive, or provide any explanation for such dangerous driving, but for arrant selfishness,” he said.
“Your behaviour ... is deserving of condemnation, denunciation and appropriate punishment.”
Judge McInerney said despite his braking being unsuccessful, he accepted Cartledge was doing everything he could to control the car at the time.
He also noted Cartledge’s post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, Barrett’s esophagus, young age and “excellent character evidence” provided to the court.
Judge McInerney said hearing victim impact statements from Sheridan and Billy’s families read to the court during the plea hearings was a “harrowing experience for all”.
“No court can alleviate personal suffering the families have endured,” he said.
Cartledge was sentenced to four years in prison, and must serve two years before becoming eligible for parole.
His driver’s licence was also cancelled for 18 months.
Judge McInerney acknowledged the attendance and excellent behaviour of both the Coulthard and Cartledge families throughout the trial and plea hearings.
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