First day of Terry Christopher Donovan’s trial for allegedly killing Helen Denise Minerds by dangerous driving

A man who allegedly ran over a beloved grandmother as she crossed the road has faced court for the first day of his trial.

A driver who allegedly ignored a red light before fatally hitting an elderly grandmother as she crossed the road told first responders at the scene that “she wasn’t there one minute but she was there the next,” a court has heard.

On Thursday, the Adelaide District Court heard Terry Christopher Donovan, 61 of Greenwith, would maintain his plea of not guilty to causing the death of 64-year-old grandmother Helen Denise Minerds after a fatal accident in 2021.

In his opening statement on the first day of the Judge alone trial, the prosecutor alleged Mr Donovan had been driving down St Vincent Street in Port Adelaide on July 28, 2021 when he failed to stop at a red light.

They allege that, after seeing the green light for pedestrians, Ms Minerds had taken as little as three steps into the crossing when Mr Donovan hit her with his silver Suzuki Ignis.

Terry Donovan has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving. Picture Dean Martin

The court visited the scene of the accident on the first day of trial. Picture Dean Martin

“The victim, Helen Denise Minerds, was struck by a vehicle driven by the accused on St Vincent Street,” the prosecutor alleged.

“She suffered significant head injuries as a result of the collision, and subsequently passed away in hospital on the 29th of July, 2021.

“She was only about three steps into the intersection when she was struck by a Suzuki Ignis hatchback being driven by the accused.

“After the incident, the accused exited his vehicle but a short time later returned to it and moved it from the crash site to the side of the road.”

The prosecutor said that Mr Donovan was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and his car was in perfect working order at the time.

He told Judge Joana Fuller that during the course of the trial, he would call on officers from SA Police, as well as members of the public who witnessed the incident to give evidence.

The two first responders on scene, Senior Constable Laurence Donnelly and Acting Brevet Sergeant Hayley Milligan, were on their way to a different incident on July 28, 2021 when they found rows of backed up traffic on St Vincent Street.

Giving evidence, Sgt Milligan said she and Const. Donnelly immediately went to the crash scene where Ms Minerds was lying on her back unconscious.

“She was lying on her back, positioned straddling two lanes of traffic. I started administering first aid and I put her in the recovery position,” Sgt Milligan said.

“As I was doing that, moving her to her side, I noticed there was a lot of blood on the ground and coming from an injury on her head.

“A member of the public found Ms Minerds’ belongings, including a mobile phone and a shopping bag and they put them next to me. I opened the phone to find Ms Minerds’ next of kin.”

Const. Donnelly told the court he went over to interview Mr Donovan, who was standing on the side of the road.

Terry Christopher Donovan (middle) with supporters outside court. Picture: Supplied

In body-worn camera footage played to the court, Const. Donnelly can be heard asking Mr Donovan what happened, to which Mr Donovan said he had been driving around “trying to find an address”.

“She wasn’t there one minute but the next she was,” Mr Donovan can be heard telling Const. Donnelly in the footage.

The court heard that CCTV from the nearby City of Port Adelaide Enfield Civic Centre would show Ms Minerds leaving the council building just minutes before the fatal accident occurred.

Mr Donovan was quiet as he heard allegations that he had failed to apply his brakes at all before the crash.

He spoke only to tell the court he would maintain his plea of not guilty for the causing death by dangerous driving charge, but reiterated his intentions to plead guilty to aggravated driving without due care.

Prosecutors said the Director of Public Prosecution would remain opposed to prosecuting Mr Donovan on the lesser charge.

The trial continues.