Benjamin Luke Cooper pleads not guilty over Mile End crash that killed 56-year-old scooter driver

A woman whose husband died after he was struck by a car while riding a scooter broke down outside court after his alleged killer pleaded not guilty.

A man accused of killing a 56-year-old scooter driver in a collision at Mile End earlier this year has pleaded not guilty, leaving his alleged victim’s wife in tears and feeling faint outside court.

Benjamin Luke Cooper, 43, of St Clair, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Thursday in front of Chief Magistrate Mary-Louise Hribal, charged with one count of cause death by dangerous driving.

Benjamin Cooper outside Adelaide Magistrates Court during an earlier appearance. Picture: NewsWire / David Mariuz

James Caldicott, for Mr Cooper, told the court his client would be entering a not guilty plea.

Emergency services were called to the intersection of Sir Donald Bradman Dr and James Congdon Dr at 12.45pm on Saturday, February 17, following reports of a collision between a motor scooter and a car.

The scene of the alleged collision. Picture: Supplied

The 56-year-old West Beach man, driving the scooter, was taken to hospital with serious head injuries, where he later died on February 21. His wife, who was present in court, began to feel faint after Thursday’s proceedings and needed to be ushered to a nearby chair.

Mr Cooper left court wearing a mask and dark sunglasses, and declined to comment when approached by the media.

He will appear in District Court next year for an arraignment on the one-year anniversary of his alleged victim’s death.