Speeding muscle car driver Bhupinder Singh pleads guilty to killing Christine Sandford by dangerous driving
An extreme speeding muscle car driver charged with killing a woman had told a court he’d argue his innocence at trial. Today, he had a change of heart.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A speeding muscle car driver who’d planned to argue his innocence at trial has made a change to his plea, instead telling a court he was behind the wheel when he killed a woman.
In the South Australian District Court on Monday morning, Bhupinder Singh stood silently in the dock as the court heard his trial date could be vacated.
Singh, 23, had originally pleaded not guilty to an aggravated charge of causing Christine Sandford’s death by dangerous driving, but the court on Monday heard he would admit driving 45km/h over the speed limit and killing her.
Ms Sandford, 40, died after her car was T-boned just minutes from her Windsor Gardens home on March 18, 2023.
She was recorded on CCTV, immediately prior to her death, saying she was “just going to the servo to get some oil because I need it for food”.
At the time, prosecutors alleged Ms Sandford’s car was struck by a Ford Mustang, driven by Singh, as she left a petrol station.
They further alleged the high-powered muscle car had been seen weaving in and out of traffic prior to the fatal collision.
Singh was also originally charged with an aggravated count of driving at extreme speed, but that charge was withdrawn by prosecutors in the Magistrates Court.
Last month, Singh’s counsel said his client had “not provided any instructions since the last court date”, and had missed scheduled appointments.
Singh was warned by Judge Paul Muscat that he needed to “get his head out of the sand” and either instruct his counsel properly.
On Monday morning, when asked how he would plead to the charge, Singh instead said “guilty”.
The court heard the charge was aggravated by the fact Singh had exceeded the legal speed limit by more than 45km/h.
He will return to court later this month where victim impact statements will be read.
‘Deserve to rot in jail’: Vile child sex predators to be locked up for life
From Monday, serious child sex predators will be locked up for life if they commit another serious crime against the state’s most vulnerable.
Cops injured, man arrested after wild SA Airbnb ruckus
Two police officers have been injured during a heated arrest outside a Barossa Airbnb after the holidaymakers complained they had been confronted by a neighbour.