Kurtis Ray Ward pleads guilty to dangerous driving
A man jailed for the fatal hit and run of a man on a mobility scooter has returned to a Fraser Coast court facing new charges relating to an incident at a popular skatepark.
Police & Courts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Police & Courts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A 26-year-old jailed for the fatal hit and run of an elderly man has faced a Hervey Bay court for chasing a teenage boy on a motorbike at a family skatepark while he was on bail.
Kurtis Ray Ward, 26, appeared via videolink in Hervey Bay Magistrates Court on Friday and pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle and driving without a licence while SPER suspended.
Ward is currently serving a seven-year jail sentence handed down by the Hervey Bay District Court in September after he pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle and failing to remain at the scene with callous disregard.
The sentence was in relation to a fatal hit and run that killed chiropractor Gordon Brinsmead at River Heads in October 2021.
Police prosecutor Senior Sergeant Sonia Edwards told the court about 4.40pm on Saturday, October 16, 2021, police were called to Skateside at Pialba about a disturbance.
The court heard Ward and two other men had confronted a 16-year-old male teenager at the skatepark.
There were about 10 people at the skatepark at the time.
Snr Sgt Edwards said CCTV footage captured Ward riding a trail bike from Beach Rd at Pialba to the skatepark, where he then rode directly towards the teenage boy.
A van then entered the Skateside carpark which the teenager tried to use to “protect himself” from Ward on the motorbike, Snr Sgt Edwards said.
The teenager ran around the van while Ward continued to follow him on his motorbike, circling the van three times, the court heard.
Snr Sgt Edwards said Ward continued to do laps around the skatepark, riding on the footpath between the skatepark and the playground.
The teenager ran away and Ward then left the skatepark.
Ward was on bail at the time for the District Court matters, and his licence was also SPER suspended, the court was told.
Defence Lawyer Morgan Harris said on the day of the offending, his client received a “panicked phone call” from his younger brother who was being “assaulted” by the teenager at the skatepark.
“Ill advised that unfortunately for Mr Ward he took the matters into his own hands,” Mr Harris said.
Mr Harris noted Ward’s dangerous conduct, but highlighted there were no injuries as a result of his actions.
The court heard Ward had a troubled childhood and ADHD.
Magistrate Michael Holohan adjourned the case, so he could hear submissions from the prosecution and defence in relation to a suitable sentence.
The court heard Ward has spent 51 days in custody from his District Court sentence.
The case was adjourned to Monday, November 7.
Armed robbery committed at end of four-day meth bender
A man was threatened and robbed in the car park of the Torquay Hotel after being lured there by another person and his alleged accomplice.
Mother of eight punches woman in back of head, spits on police
A woman who bashed and robbed a pensioner over her alleged treatment of a homeless girl, later ran amok in the Hervey Bay Hospital and seriously assaulted a police officer.