A driver who killed a three-year-old girl after running a red light could be back in the community in a little over a year.
Kamal Ghali, 25, dropped his head on Tuesday afternoon as Victorian County Court Judge Trevor Wraight jailed him for two years and six months.
He will be eligible for parole after 15 months.
Ghali admitted dangerous driving causing Mila Wang's death in Melbourne's southeast on October 17, 2024.
The three-year-old girl had been walking on a pedestrian crossing with her grandmother, older sister and two others when Ghali ignored the red light and crashed into her.
Mila was flung into the air and landed almost 30 metres away, with her grandmother rushing to her aid and cradling her as other motorists stopped to help.
Ghali stopped at the scene but called his father instead of emergency services.
Others rang triple zero and paramedics tried to save Mila but she died from her injuries in hospital later that day.
In his sentencing reasons, Judge Wraight noted the light had been red for four to five seconds before Ghali struck the little girl.
"Four to five seconds can be a significant period of time," he told the court.
"I do not accept the offending is at the lower level."
But the judge found the case was a clear example of an otherwise safe and competent driver not paying proper attention.
Judge Wraight noted the eloquent and moving statement of Mila's mother Wenna Lin, who described the emptiness in her life now that her youngest daughter's laughter and joy was gone.
He told Mila's family, who were watching on the video link, the sentence he imposed would never reflect the value of the three-year-old's life.
Their pain was one factor he had to consider in sentencing but the judge said he needed to look at Ghali's age, lack of prior offending and very strong prospects of rehabilitation.
The 25-year-old was not speeding or using his phone at the time of the crash and was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Ghali had been diagnosed with an adjustment disorder following the offending which Judge Wraight accepted would make his time in custody more difficult.
Ghali rubbed his eyes throughout the hearing and dropped his head as he learnt of his sentence.
Dozens of his friends and family packed the court, and they called out their love as he was led from the room by guards.
