Harrison Kitt, who allegedly killed two people in Urrbrae car crash, pleads not guilty due to mental incompetence
A young man who allegedly killed an SA Police officer and a suburban mother in a crash at Urrbrae has pleaded not guilty, saying he was mentally incompetent due to a now-diagnosed illness.
Police & Courts
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The driver who allegedly killed a senior SA Police officer and a suburban mother has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and manic episodes, a court has heard.
On Friday, Harrison Kitt pleaded not guilty to two aggravated counts of causing death, and one aggravated count of causing serious harm, by dangerous driving.
His barrister, David Edwardson QC, told the Adelaide Magistrates Court that his client’s pleas were the result of extensive mental health analysis.
One of the specialists who had examined Kitt, he said, was Dr Paul Furst – head of the state’s forensic community mental health service.
“We’ve obtained a provisional report from Dr Furst, who confirms my client has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and manic episodes with psychotic features,” he said.
“That has been further confirmed by clinical psychiatrists at the Royal Adelaide Hospital.”
Kitt, 20, of Urrbrae, is accused of killing SA Police Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan and Tania McNeill in a crash at Fullarton Rd and Cross Rd, Urrbrae, in April.
He is further accused of having caused serious harm to Superintendent Shanahan’s husband, Peter, who was driving their car at the time.
Court documents further allege Kitt’s offending was aggravated because he was speeding prior to the impact.
It has been repeatedly asserted – by both Kitt’s parents and his defence counsel – that he had alarmed people with his uncharacteristic behaviour prior to the crash.
His case has been adjourned several times for investigation into not only witness statements but also Kitt’s alleged “manic episode or psychosis at the time” of the incident.
Under state law, any person found to have been mentally incompetent, due to a medical condition or illness, at the time of an offence is deemed to be not guilty.
That person is then subject to a limiting term – or period under mental health supervision – equal to the jail sentence that would have otherwise applied.
The maximum penalty for an aggravated count of causing death by dangerous driving is life imprisonment.
On Friday, Mr Edwardson said changes to court procedures meant fulsome mental health reports could not be obtained until the matter was before the District Court.
Magistrate Jayanthi McGrath remanded Kitt on continuing bail to face the District Court in January.
