‘PSYKO’ driver Alexander Campbell wants back $330k Lamborghini that killed Sophia Naismith, says he will ‘sell it for scrap’ to settle insurance claim

The driver of the Lamborghini that hit and killed Sophia Naismith wants the $330,000 sports car back – but not to drive.

The owner of the $330,000 sports car that crashed into and killed Sophia Naismith wants it back – so that he can settle his insurance policy and “sell it for scrap”.

The Advertiser can reveal Alexander Campbell and Shannons Insurance are in dispute over his 2016 Lamborghini Huracan, registered as “PSYKO”.

Shannons does not pay out claims where a client is “complicit in a criminal act”, which could prompt Campbell to file a lawsuit against the insurer.

Speaking publicly for the first time, Campbell – who was cleared of killer driving, but convicted of recklessness – said he does not “want to drive that vehicle ever again”.

Alexander Campbell, centre, leaves court after his sentencing. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe

“I will dispose of the vehicle as soon as it’s released,” he told The Advertiser through his lawyers.

“I don’t want to have anything to do with that vehicle ever again, it will be sold for scrap.”

Huracan parts fetch high prices online, from almost $55,000 for an engine down to $103 for its aerial.

But SA Police say the car is not going anywhere – because there may yet be a coronial inquest into Sophia’s death.

In August, Campbell, 37, was found not guilty of causing the death of Sophia, 15, by dangerous driving in a crash at Glengowrie in June 2019.

He was also acquitted, following a trial without a jury, of causing serious harm by dangerous driving to Sophia’s best friend, Jordyn Callea.

Campbell had earlier pleaded guilty to the lesser offence of aggravated driving without due care, the penalty for which is 93 per cent less than the major charge.

Sophia Naismith was killed in the incident.

Throughout the trial, he maintained the crash was unintentional – despite evidence he had been seen driving erratically and had worn down, inappropriate tyres on the car.

In his verdict, Judge Paul Muscat ruled prosecutors had failed to prove their case – that Campbell had “accelerated harshly” and lost control – beyond reasonable doubt.

“On my careful assessment of the whole of the evidence that the prosecution presented at the trial, and the arguments by the parties, the sufficiency of the evidence to prove the charges are not satisfied,” he said.

Campbell received a suspended four-month prison term and a licence ban that expires next year.

The verdict and sentence devastated Sophia’s family, with her father Luke saying they and all South Australian families had been “failed” by the legal system.

They called for extensive legal reform, including the creation of a “reckless homicide” offence to bridge the gap between killer driving and reckless driving.

The case provoked widespread community outrage, prompting the state government to propose new licensing schemes and laws.

On November 3, the 21-day period in which prosecution or defence counsel could challenge Campbell’s sentence expired.

Since then, Campbell and Shannons have been in dispute over his policy and the ultimate fate of the car.

Campbell says he will never drive the Lamborghini again, and wants it only to settle his insurance claim. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Mariuz

On Friday, a spokeswoman for the Suncorp Group – the owner of Shannons – said the company did not comment on “individual claims without signed consent from the customer”.

“All insurance policies from Shannons, broadly speaking, exclude claims which specifically involve our customer being complicit in a criminal act for which they are ultimately found guilty,” she said.

“If the criminal act was causative to the claimed loss, such claims outcomes are sustainable at both the Australian Financial Complaints Authority and at court.”

Through his lawyer, Campbell said his only remaining interest in the Lamborghini arose from the insurance policy.

“Shannons is making determinations as to whether they are going to do anything with the vehicle,” he said.

“I don’t ever want to drive that vehicle again.”

The Lamborghini is currently impounded at SA Police’s facility at Ottoway, and is understood to be in a non-functional and non-drivable condition.

A police spokeswoman said it would remain there, as Major Crash investigators believed the high-powered vehicle still had a role to play in the legal system.

“The vehicle will be retained by police pending any coronial inquest,” she said.

Sophia’s family were contacted by The Advertiser for this article and declined to comment.