Pakistani student jailed for death of friend in drag race in Australia

Melbourne: A 23-year-old Pakistani student has been sentenced to two years imprisonment by a Australian court over the death of his friend during a drag race.

Muhammad Uzair Saleem was sentenced by Perth jury after he was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of 19-year-old Nadeem Kahn in June 2014, according to ABC report.

The Court heard that the two had just left a friend's house in separate cars and started to race each other when they took off from a set of traffic lights on Spencer Road in Thornlie suburb.

They travelled about 400 metres when Kahn lost control of his car.

The vehicle skidded and slid across the road, mounting the kerb, the footpath and a grass verge and smashed through a brick wall and catching fire, the report said.

Kahn died at the scene.

Witnesses testified the cars had been travelling about 100 kilometres per hour in the 60kph zone in the lead up to the crash.

Judge Stephen Scott said while it may never be known exactly why Kahn lost control of his vehicle, he was satisfied the crash was caused by both cars being raced at speed.

He told Saleem this "affected Kahn's ability to maintain effective control of his vehicle, given it was likely his attention was being diverted to racing with your vehicle".

Saleem's lawyer Johnathan Davies had urged the judge to impose a suspended prison sentence, arguing his client was otherwise of good character and had been deeply affected by the death of his friend.

However, Judge Scott said an immediate jail term had to be imposed to send a message to the community that drivers needed to be responsible on the roads.

"The road toll in this state is horrific and somehow a line needs to be drawn in the sand," he said.

"Drivers, particularly young drivers, need to realise how lethal motor vehicles can be when they're not driven in a careful and attentive manner."

Saleem will have to serve 12 months before he can be released on parole.