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Ljubica Brkic, 84, fronts Geelong court charged over death of schoolboy Caleb Wesley

A woman accused of a hit-run killing of a boy while he walked to school has surrendered her passport and been banned from driving, a court has heard.

Woman charged over the death of Teesdale six-year-old Caleb Wesley leaves court

A woman accused of a hit-run killing of a boy while he walked to school in Teesdale has faced court.

Ljubica Brkic, 84, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court for a filing hearing on Friday charged with failing to stop, render assistance or report a collision, after she allegedly fatally struck Caleb Wesley, 6, on the Bannockburn-Shelford Road on March 27.

The much-loved boy, who died on the road, had been walking to a bus stop with his siblings.

Ms Brkic, who appeared in court flanked by her own daughter and with the assistance of a Serbian-Croation interpreter, was arrested a short time after the tragedy at a nearby address.

84-year-old Ljubica Brkic faces court in Geelong over the death of a 6-year-old boy in a Teesdale crash. Picture: Mark Murray
84-year-old Ljubica Brkic faces court in Geelong over the death of a 6-year-old boy in a Teesdale crash. Picture: Mark Murray

Her defence barrister told the court he sought to adjourn the matter, saying he’d only received a brief of evidence from police on Wednesday.

She was formally charged on November 24, more than seven months after the tragedy.

The court heard a hand up brief contained a number of witnesses and a significant amount of material.

Magistrate Kimberley Swadesir adjourned the matter for a committal mention on February 10.

Ms Brkic has surrendered her passport as a condition of her bail, the court was told.

Caleb Wesley. Picture: GoFundMe
Caleb Wesley. Picture: GoFundMe

She was instructed not to drive a motor vehicle until medically cleared by VicRoads and was prohibited from contacting witnesses.

Her lawyer declined to comment outside the Geelong court.

Caleb was walking to catch a bus to Covenant College in Bell Post Hill when he was fatally struck.

The nearby scene six-year-old Caleb Wesley was fatally struck in a hit-run. Mark Wilson
The nearby scene six-year-old Caleb Wesley was fatally struck in a hit-run. Mark Wilson

Following the charges by major collision detectives, the boy’s father, Surendra Wesley, reaffirmed he had forgiven Ms Brkic “but forgiveness does not mean there are no consequences for actions”.

mark.murray@news.com.au

Originally published as Ljubica Brkic, 84, fronts Geelong court charged over death of schoolboy Caleb Wesley

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/geelong/ljubica-brkic-84-fronts-geelong-court-charged-over-death-of-schoolboy-caleb-wesley/news-story/ef3b7c2b453f356182c53aedb8aa0382