DPP seek to try teenager accused of causing Dr Georgina Heath’s death as an adult

The crash that killed a beloved academic and mother is so serious that a teen driver should stand trial as an adult, a court has heard.

The teenager who allegedly killed a beloved University of SA academic should stand trial as an adult due to the seriousness and severity of his actions, a court has heard.

On Wednesday, the case against the P-plater accused of causing Dr Georgina Heath’s death by dangerous driving was called on in the Youth Court.

SA Police told the court that the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions had considered the matter and would seek to have it heard in the District Court.

If successful, that application would see the 17-year-old face a maximum sentence of life imprisonment if convicted of the offence.

Dr Georgina Heath, left with Teyah and Jessie Heath. Picture: Supplied.

The boy, 17, has yet to plead to one aggravated count of causing death by dangerous driving and four aggravated counts of causing harm by dangerous driving.

He is further charged with driving with excess blood alcohol, exceeding the speed limit by 45km/h, and with multiple breaches of the conditions of his provisional licence.

Those alleged breaches include driving during hours restricted to provisional drivers and failing to display P-plates on the vehicle.

Prosecutors allege the 17-year-old was behind the wheel of the Mitsubishi Lancer sedan that collided with an SUV on Main South Rd, Hackham, in March last year.

Dr Heath, 51, was a passenger in the SUV and died at the scene – the 34th death on SA’s roads in 2023.

Her partner and four other people, including the passenger in the Lancer, were injured.

Under state law, stage 1 P-plate drivers are banned from the road between midnight and 5am.

On Wednesday, Rory Ormerod, for SA Police, asked the court to set a time for the application to be heard.

James Caldicott, for the boy, said he did not oppose that request.

He said he understood the prosecution’s decision to pursue an adult trial arose from a recent Youth Court judgment.

In that case, he said, the court ruled any matter involving a 17-year-old accused and a road death should be heard in the adult jurisdiction.

The boy was remanded on continuing bail to face court again next month.