A woman who was sending text messages while driving to a hairdresser's appointment before fatally striking a cyclist outside Perth's Kings Park says she wishes she had done things differently.
Renowned academic Paola Ferroni, 70, died in hospital four days after she was hit by Joanne Leigh Lawrence's 4WD, which was travelling at about 60km/h, in November 2014.
Lawrence, 42, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death and was sentenced in the West Australian District Court on Friday to three years behind bars.
The mother-of-two cried during sentencing and later released a statement, saying she thought about the crash every day.
"Whilst I was not sending a text message at the time of my accident, I had been sending text messages while I was driving and was therefore distracted from driving in the lead-up to the accident," she said.
Lawrence said while there was nothing she could do to compensate Dr Ferroni's friends and family, she could warn others about the dangers of using a mobile phone while driving.
"I will have to live with the guilt for the rest of my life," she said.
"Dr Ferroni's family and friends have to life with the fact that her life has been shortened by my actions and that they are deprived of a much-loved friend and family member, and the community has been deprived of a valuable member of society.
"Please, if you are a person who uses your mobile telephone while driving, think about the potential harm your actions may have on others.
"I would hate for others to go through what Dr Ferroni and her friends and family have had to endure."
Dr Ferroni's partner Rosemary Coates told reporters outside court she would remember her as a charismatic and creative person who contributed a great deal to many people.
"I think that in the justice system the victims have no voice whatsoever, it's all about the rights of the offender," she said.
"The delayed justice just exacerbates the problem with grieving and it also blunts memories so that the perceptions might be altered."
Lawrence's lawyer Gary Massey had submitted that his client was looking at roses on a median strip at the time of the collision, but Judge Richard Keen said that was an attempt to minimise her culpability.
Dr Ferroni was wearing a high-visibility top and helmet, but was thrown into the air upon impact.
Lawrence repeatedly said "I've killed someone" after the crash, the court was told.
Mr Massey said his client had a history of mental health problems and her decision-making was impaired at the time.
Judge Keen said there was an enormous amount of carnage on the roads and general deterrence was important, but accepted Lawrence was remorseful and was previously of good character.
Lawrence must serve a minimum of 18 months behind bars before she can be eligible for parole and also had her driver's licence suspended for three years.
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