Trial starts for youth accused of killing Millicent’s Ned and Nan Walker, and Sue Skeer, in Mount Gambier crash

The trial of a youth accused of killing three people in a crash has heard conflicting evidence about which car was in the wrong – as family members are excluded from court.

A learner driver was thinking about school when he veered on to the wrong side of the road and killed three members of the same family, a court has heard.

The 17-year-old, whose identity is suppressed by law, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of causing death and four counts of causing harm by dangerous driving.

Ned and Nan Walker, and their daughter Sue Skeer, died in the head-on crash on the Princes Highway at Suttontown, near Mount Gambier, on November 28, 2020.

Opening the boy’s Youth Court trial in Mount Gambier, prosecutor Aimee Winra said the crash was a “catastrophic tragedy” and was caused by “gross inattention”.

Ms Winra said the boy was driving a Toyota LandCruiser on the incorrect side of the road when it collided with a Ford Territory driven by Ms Walker.

Sue Skeer, left, and her parents Ned and Nan Walker. Picture: Supplied by the family

“The collision caused the Ford Territory to punch backwards and rotate rapidly in a clockwise direction,” Ms Winra said.

Mr Walker, 80, Mrs Walker, 77, and Ms Skeer, 55, all from Millicent – died instantly.

The aftermath of the crash. Picture: 7NEWS Adelaide

Ms Winra said the boy told police after the crash he had not been concentrating and was thinking about school when he veered on to the wrong side of the road.

Bill Boucaut SC, for the boy, said his client’s drifting on to the incorrect side of the road was “momentary” and he was alerted by his mother, who was his supervising driver, to correct.

“The LandCruiser had gone back to its correct side of the road,” Mr Boucaut said.

“The Ford Territory had gone to the incorrect side of the road, having seen presumably the LandCruiser on the incorrect side of the road at some stage.”

A sign and floral tributes placed at the site of the fatal crash. Picture: Jessica Ball.

Giving evidence, the boy’s aunt said they had been travelling back from an autism social club and was “absolutely sure” Ms Walker had veered on to their side of the road.

“It happened so fast … they came out of nowhere,” the boy’s aunt said.

“We didn’t see them until they were there and they were on our side of the road.”

In the Adelaide Youth Court this month, counsel for the boy made a final attempt to keep the victims’ family out of the courtroom.

Mr Boucaut told the court at the time that his client’s “psychological challenges” warranted consideration of his request behind closed doors.

Judge Penny Eldridge rejected the submission, saying the media and the victims’ families were entitled to be there.

However, on Tuesday morning, only five members of the combined Walker family were permitted into the courtroom.

Casey Walker, the granddaughter of Ned and Nan Walker, told The Advertiser she was “appalled at the decision”.

“We’ve all taken the week off work, some have flown in babysitters to watch their children, and here we are and they only allowed five people in,” Ms Walker said.

“Five people for three family members who were killed, this is an absolute slap in the face, it is not justice and no closure for us.

“Ned and Nan were my grandparents and Sue was my aunty, yet aunty Sue’s kids are not even allowed in … this is an absolute disgrace.”

The judge-alone trial continues.