Accused murderer Michael Knowles ‘abused witnesses’ after he drove head-on into 4WD, court hears

A WHYALLA man accused of murdering two young university students in a head-on smash told witnesses he “just wanted to die” after the shocking smash in December 2014.

Crash killer ‘just wanted to die’

• Whyalla man ‘trying to commit suicide’ when he killed two young people in head-on highway smash

A WHYALLA man accused of murdering two young university students in a head-on smash told witnesses he “just wanted to die” after the shocking smash in December 2014.

Those first to arrive at the horrific scene on the Lincoln Hwy told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that Michael Frank Knowles, who was on the roadside with his pants around his ankles, was abusive and angry.

Knowles has admitted causing the crash that killed friends James Moore and Natasha Turnbull and seriously injured their two passengers in the early hours of December 29, 2014, but has pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder.

Prosecutors allege Knowles must have known he could cause death or at least serious harm when he drove his Nissan station wagon head-on into the Mitsubishi Pajero driven by Mr Moore, about 17km west of Whyalla.

The jury on Wednesday heard evidence from crash survivor Jason Bristow, who sustained serious injuries along with another friend Amy Jones.

Mr Bristow said the friends had spent the day digging for fossils at Coffin Bay National Park and that there had never been cause for him to worry about Mr Moore’s driving.

Tash Turnbull was also killed in the two-car crash on the Lincoln Hwy, near Whyalla.

James Moore died in the crash near Whyalla.

He told the court he had fallen asleep in the front passenger seat when Knowles’ vehicle travelled onto the wrong side of the road into their path.

“I wasn’t fully aware that I had been in a car accident at that time when I woke up, but I knew something wasn’t right and I knew I had to get out of the car,” Mr Bristow said.

Mr Bristow was flown to Royal Adelaide Hospital with injuries including a fractured sternum and internal bleeding, while Ms Jones suffered a broken pelvis and lacerated liver.

The remains of the Nissan Patrol on the side of the Lincoln Highway after the smash. Picture: Stephen Laffer

James Moore, Amy Jones, Jason Bristow and Natasha Turnbull at Coffin Bay on the day James and Tash were killed in the crash. Amy and Jason were also in the car and were injured.

One of the first people to arrive at the crash scene, Adrianne Shoebridge, said Knowles “became abusive and started swinging” when she and others in her car approached him.

Ms Shoebridge said Knowles, 37, smelt strongly of alcohol and remarked “f**k off, leave me alone, I just want to die”.

She said the crash scene was in near darkness and that she was not aware another car was involved for some time.

The court also heard evidence from Knowles’ former girlfriend Teri Gelligan, who urged him not to drive after he became upset and threatened to take his own life about two hours before the crash.

Ms Gelligan said Knowles was “manipulative” and “childish” and would play mind games including constant threats to harm himself if she did not rekindle their “turbulent” relationship.

“He would threaten to drive into a semi-truck sometimes, other times he would want to neck himself,” Ms Gelligan said.

The trial, in Port Augusta Supreme Court, continues.

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