Lisa Trewren wanted to leave crash victim David Hoy ‘dead on the side of the road’, court told
Family members have pleaded for justice while paying tribute to a pedestrian “senselessly” killed by a drunk driver who “tried to escape the scene”, a court has heard.
Police & Courts
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A family has paid tribute to their “loved and adored” son and brother in a court hearing which also heard the intoxicated killer driver responsible for his death “wanted to leave him dead on the side of the road”.
Lisa Maria Trewren, 39, of Murray Bridge, had drunk a dozen stubbies on December 20, 2021, in the hours before she crashed into much loved Hills identity David Hoy, 31, on the Mount Barker Rd at Totness shortly after 11pm.
During a hearing on Monday, the District Court heard Trewren – who was banned from driving less than months earlier for drink driving – had been drinking before leaving her Murray Bridge home bound for Hahndorf. On the way, she stopped to buy a carton of beer and kept drinking while driving.
At the time of the crash, she had a likely blood alcohol level was between 0.12 and 0.2.
Trewren was “weaving all over the place”, veered across the road crashing into a barrier before hitting Mr Hoy – also known as Amy – who was walking along the side of the road collecting cans.
In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Hoy’s sister said her brother’s life was “taken away in such a senseless way”.
“It’s still just so devastating for me, how his life was taken … David’s life mattered,” Jessica Hoy said.
She said her “kind and thoughtful” brother was “so loved and adored” and worked meaningfully to collect cans and clear rubbish from the roadside to support himself and keep the community clean.
“He impacted the community so beautifully with his warm smile and welcoming attitude,” she said.
“My hope is that my late brother gets the justice he deserved.”
Ms Hoy also read the victim impact statement of her mother, Yvette Hoy, to the court.
“No mother should have to go through this, no mother wants this,” she said in her statement.
“I feel sad, devastated, lost and depressed. David was my first born, my only son.”
She said she was not happy at how the crash was caused and was “scarred” at seeing her son in hospital.
“I just want justice for my son, David.”
During the hearing Judge Paul Muscat said Trewren’s conduct on the evening – including that she was actively drinking while driving and had been seen vomiting due to intoxication – was both “appalling” and “astonishing” and at the higher end of the scale of seriousness.
“She wanted to flee and leave Mr Hoy dead on the side of the road,” he said.
“She tried to escape the scene that night.
“I wouldn’t call it an accident … it was a crime.”
The court heard Trewren stopped about 150m from the scene and her passenger dialled triple-0.
It heard that in the background of that call Trewren could be heard saying Mr Hoy was in the middle of the road at the time and had only had a couple of drinks – claims which were incorrect.
Prosecutor Andrew Wilson said Trewren also told police she did not realise she was banned from driving at the time which was “plainly a lie”.
Emma Shaw, for Trewren, said her client had written an apology to Mr Hoy’s family but there was “not enough words to convey the guilt” she carries.
“She accepts that she made a very, very foolish decision that has had tragic ramifications,” she said.
“She was not only heavily affected by alcohol, she was in shock and absolutely terrified.”
She said Trewren was remorseful and had since sworn off alcohol – which became a crutch after her mother died from cancer in 2019 – and was committed to rehabilitation.
Ms Shaw asked the court impose a sentence as lenient as possible.
Trewren previously pleaded guilty to a charge of aggravated causing death by dangerous driving which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. She is eligible for a discount of up to 25 per cent for her early plea.
She returns to court to be sentenced next month.
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