Teen pleads guilty to killing Dr Georgina Heath in Hackham crash, not guilty to injuring four passengers

A drunk, speeding teenager has admitted his driving caused the death of a beloved UniSA academic and mother outside a popular Irish pub.

A speeding and drunk teenager who killed a beloved UniSA Academic in a St Patrick’s Day crash has admitted his driving was why she died.

On Wednesday, the teen, who cannot legally be identified, appeared in the Adelaide Youth Court before Magistrate Kate Hodder to answer five charges against him over a crash that caused the death of Dr Georgina Heath last year at Hackham.

The court heard the teen, who was 17 at the time, would plead guilty to one aggravated count of causing Dr Heath’s death by dangerous driving.

He will plead not guilty to the remaining four counts that relate to injuries sustained by the other passengers in the same car.

The teen, now 18, was allegedly behind the wheel during the early-morning crash in March last year and was charged with one aggravated count of causing Dr Heath’s death by dangerous driving.

He was further charged with one aggravated count of causing serious harm, and three aggravated counts of causing harm, by dangerous driving.

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

The teen, dressed in a suit, spoke only to enter his pleas during Wednesday’s hearing – after glancing at his lawyer James Caldicott for confirmation – as he answered the magistrate.

In March this year, police said the teenager should be tried as an adult given the seriousness of the alleged incident – meaning his not-guilty pleas will put him before a jury or judge of the District Court.

His guilty plea to causing Dr Heath’s death – and his case being heard as an adult – mean the teen is facing a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.

They alleged the teenager’s Mitsubishi Lancer sedan collided with an SUV on Main South Rd, Hackham as the SUV was leaving Mick O’Shea’s pub.

They further alleged he had a blood alcohol reading of 0.128, was travelling at between 139km/h and 150km/h, and breaching P-plate rules, at the time.

The scene of the crash on Main South Rd. Picture: 7NEWS

Dr Heath, 51, was a passenger in the SUV and died at the scene – her partner and four other people, including the passenger in the Lancer, were injured.

The court agreed an adult trial was warranted.

By pleading guilty to death by dangerous driving, the teen has admitted he was driving a vehicle in a “culpably negligent manner, recklessly, or at a speed or in a manner dangerous to any person” at the time the crash took place.

On Wednesday, Ms Hodder set a date for the teen to re-enter his pleas and be arraigned in the District Court.

The teen will return to court in December.

Following Dr Heath’s death last year, friends and family paid tribute to a “beautiful soul taken way too soon” on social media.

One of Dr Heath’s daughters posted, “Rip mum. Don’t speed. Don’t drink and drive. Don’t be an idiot. Taken too soon. Still in shock.”

Some of Dr Heath’s friends told of how she loved her family, “daggy” songs, early morning gym classes and a cheeky glass of bubbles.

“Devastating news, George was one in a million and a very special friend,” one friend wrote.