Man denied bail over fatal ute crash, set to stand trial

A man charged with crashing a ute crammed with his friends, killing a teenager, has been denied bail with his “poor compliance history” cited as a concern.

Brendon Thomas Liddy.

A man accused of driving a ute that crashed and killed a 16 year-old boy has been denied bail.

Brendon Thomas Liddy was charged after allegedly crashing a Toyota LandCruiser packed with nine friends into a tree at Nganmarriyanga, Palumpa, on December 28 2022.

On Monday at the Supreme Court in Darwin, Justice Meredith Huntingford noted Liddy had “a poor compliance history” of breaching bail and failing to attend court appearances.

Liddy’s lawyer Michael Drury conceded the accused’s history “is not good” but maintained his client was “a young man who is seeking a chance” and someone who would undergo rehabilitation to address substance abuse.

The court also heard from Mr Drury that Liddy was a low risk to interfering with key witnesses and of further offending.

The prosecution, however, maintained Liddy’s record of noncompliance combined with the severity of the charges levelled against him were too significant to grant bail and that a rehabilitation program could be conducted while in custody.

Justice Huntingford found there was sufficient evidence to deny bail until he faces a Supreme Court trial where he will stand charged with recklessly endangering the lives of his passengers, failing to stop to give any assistance after the crash and dangerous driving causing death.

Liddy was also charged with other minor driving offences which will be dealt with at the lower court, including drink driving, driving unlicensed and not having a number plate attached.

Mr Drury confirmed his client denied driving the vehicle and confirmed his client would fight the allegations.

Originally published as Man denied bail over fatal ute crash, set to stand trial