Karlie and Khandalyce case: Hazel Passmore suing alleged killer Daniel Holdom for damages over car crash
THE woman at the centre of the Karlie and Khandalyce murder investigation is suing the young mum’s alleged killer over the injuries she sustained in a 2008 car crash.
THE woman at the centre of the Karlie and Khandalyce murder investigation is suing the young mum’s alleged killer over the injuries she sustained in a 2008 car crash.
However, the District Court on Tuesday heard Hazel Passmore’s claim against Daniel Marshall, aka Daniel Holdom, has not sought compensation for the deaths of her two children.
Master Mark Rice recommended that oversight be addressed prior to the lawsuit entering settlement discussions in February next year.
“There’s something peculiar about this matter ... two children were killed in this collision but the claim does not refer to that,” he said.
“She’s entitled to damages for the deaths of the children, as well as burial and funeral costs, in the ordinary course.”
Ms Passmore, who had a leg amputated following the crash in Far North South Australia, did not attend court in person.
She is seeking unspecified damages in her claim — The Advertiser understands any payout would come from Holdom’s compulsory third-party insurance.
Holdom, 41, has yet to plead to allegations he murdered Karlie Pearce-Stevenson in December 2008, and dumped her body at Belanglo State Forest, where it was found in August 2010.
He has not been charged with the murder of Khandalyce, whose body was found in a suitcase at Wynarka in 2015.
Ms Passmore, 33, of Davoren Park, has repeatedly been questioned by SA Police over the alleged impersonation of Ms Pearce-Stevenson following her December 2008 death.
She has not been charged with any offence.
Ms Passmore is Holdom’s former partner and suffered permanent injuries in a car crash, caused by him, that also killed two of her children.
Since Holdom’s arrest, Ms Passmore has dismantled her social media presence.
The bodies of Ms Pearce-Stevenson and Khandalyce will be laid to rest together, in a joint funeral, on Friday.
In her statement of claim, Ms Passmore asserts both the collision and her injuries were caused by Holdom’s negligence in that he failed to:
KEEP a proper lookout while driving.
STOP or slow down to avoid the collision.
APPLY the brakes in time.
STEER or control the hire car to avoid the collision.
She says she has suffered loss, personal injury, damage due to:
BEING in a coma.
CLOSED head injury.
COMPOUND fracture dislocation of her left knee with extensive soft tissue degloving.
DISLOCATION of the right knee with nerve palsy.
SEVERE laceration of the right leg requiring a skin graft.
MAJOR bowel and abdominal injuries.
MULTIPLE bruising and lacerations.
Ms Passmore says the injuries resulted in:
LOSS of her right leg above the knee.
LOSS of use of the left leg.
LOSS of part of her bowel.
DENTAL injuries and general pain.
“At the time of the incident, Ms Passmore was unemployed but caring for her three children,” the document asserts.
“As a result of the collision, she has sustained impacted or reduced body functions which have reduced her capacity to undertake paid employment.
“(They have) reduced her earning capacity in the past and in the future.”
She asks the court to award her damages for past and future economic loss, medical expenses, future care, gardening services and modifications to make her home wheelchair-accessible.
On Tuesday, the court heard the settlement conference will be conducted by Frances Nelson, QC — who is also the chair of the South Australian Parole Board.
Patrick Liptak, for Ms Passmore, said Holdom had yet to file a defence to the claim.
“It might be difficult for solicitors to get instructions from him, he may not be in a position to talk to anyone,” he said.
“I’m not sure, because he’s in custody in New South Wales.”
He asked Master Rice to issue orders to SA Police so they would disclose the Major Crash file on the accident.
“The defendant was not charged with causing death by dangerous driving in this matter,” he said.
Mr Liptak said his client suffered extensive injuries in the crash and had to have her leg amputated after being transferred to the Royal Adelaide Hospital.
Master Rice adjourned the case to February next year, ordering SA Police disclose the material.
He also recommended Ms Passmore redraft her statement of claim to include the deaths of her children.