Child in court over crash that killed Sheree Robertson, Michale Chandler and Kelsie Davies
A 13-year-old boy’s boasting to his detention mates after causing a crash which killed three innocent women was far from his only shocking act inside, it can be revealed. LATEST, VIDEO.
Police & Courts
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Since his arrest for crashing a stolen Mercedes and killing three women, a boy has racked up nearly 100 behaviour “incidents” in juvenile detention.
The shocking numbers were revealed in Hervey Bay District Court which also heard the boy, now 14, has whined about his “sore toe” as one of his dying victims screamed for help.
The court also heard in discussions with Youth Justice workers, the teen had spoken of his own brain injury, comparing it to that of Kaylah Behrens, the only survivor of his victims who was in a coma for 10 days, and that he had initially shown no insight or remorse.
He also talked about whether his responses would “look good in court”.
The teen had recorded 96 behavioural incidents in the 18 months he’d spent in detention, the court was told.
It also heard cross-examination from a doctor who prepared a pre-sentence report.
It was told the teen had previously suffered a brain injury and been exposed to a dysfunctional home, including domestic violence.
He was in the care of the state at the time of offending.
The doctor said the teen was a moderate to high chance of reoffending at this time.
Defence barrister Ed Whitten said his client had said stupid and insensitive things about his conduct during his time in detention, but claimed it weighed heavily on him.
Mr Cook put to the doctor that the teen had often bragged about his notoriety when his offences were broadcast on television and his behaviour had resulted in physical and verbal conflicts with other young people who took offence to the boasting.
The doctor said that when looking at the teen’s reaction, he had taken into account his level of emotional development.
“You’re talking about a 13-year-old boy who is going into this environment and clearly he doesn’t appreciate how serious those behaviours are in the scheme of the offending what he’d done and the victims and their families,” he said.
The realisation that he had killed people was something he struggled to come to terms with, Mr Whitten said, adding that the teen wished he could change things and was very sorry.
The boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing the deaths of Kelsie Davies, 17, Michale Chandler, 29 and Sheree Robertson, 52 on Saltwater Creek Road in Maryborough on April 30, 2023.
Occupational therapist and Reach Church pastor Michale, dancer Kelsie and Kaylah were travelling home in a Holden Astra after going to see a movie while nurse Sheree was returning from work at Maryborough Hospital.
The court heard the teen had been angry after his friends who criticised his driving.
Crown prosecutor Chris Cook presented a statement of facts to the court, detailing how the teenagers who used another stolen car to drive the boy from Bundaberg to the Fraser Coast had been terrified by his driving that night before the crash.
Showing photos from the scene, Mr Cook said it was clear the “absolute carnage” he had caused.
The boy faced the court on Monday, sitting in the dock, wearing a white shirt and black pants.
His head was bowed as the court heard how he had hit the Holden Astra driven by Ms Davies, which in turn hit Ms Robertson’s car.
While Ms Davies and Ms Chandler were left unconscious by the initial impact, Ms Robertson was trapped in her car and screaming for help, Mr Cook said.
Meanwhile, those who came to the teen’s assistance heard him complain of a “sore toe”.
Ms Behrens suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in the crash.
The impact on her alone had been “catastrophic”, Mr Cook said, and she had significant scarring that would be with her for life.
During the sentencing, Ms Behrens spoke for the first time about the crash in a Victim Impact Statement.
The statement revealed the pain of her ongoing recovery and the loss of two of her friends, who she’d gone out with that night to see a movie.
The court heard in discussions with Youth Justice workers, the teen had spoken of his own brain injury, comparing it to Ms Behrens’, and had shown no insight or remorse, the court heard.
He also talked about whether his responses would “look good in court”.
The teen had recorded 96 behavioural incidents in the 18 months he’d spent in detention, the court was told.
Showing photos from the scene, Mr Cook said it was clear the “absolute carnage” he had caused.
The boy faced the court on Monday, sitting in the dock, wearing a white shirt and black pants.
His head was bowed as the court heard how he had hit the Holden Astra driven by Ms Davies, which in turn hit Ms Robertson’s car.
While Ms Davies and Ms Chandler were left unconscious by the initial impact, Ms Robertson was trapped in her car and screaming for help, Mr Cook said.
Meanwhile, those who came to the teen’s assistance heard him complain of a “sore toe”.
Ms Behrens suffered a severe traumatic brain injury in the crash.
The impact on her alone had been “catastrophic”, Mr Cook said, and she had significant scarring that would be with her for life.
The court also heard Victim Impact Statements read by Lisa Latimer, Ms Robertson’s sister, and Susan Marquis, Ms Davies’ mother.
Ms Latimer began by saying the “vital part” of her family had been taken away and the moment of losing Ms Robertson was “the darkest moment of our lives”.
“Sheree was a vibrant, passionate, and loving person”, she said.
“Her loss has left a void that can never be filled”.
Ms Latimer detailed how her sister was the mother and sole caregiver of her son, who she described as “the person he relied on the most”.
Ms Marquis remembered the moment of finding out about her death as having “my heart ripped from my chest”.
She admitted she had struggled to sleep in the aftermath of the crash before stating that she did not know if she “will ever experience joy again”.
“I still struggle to go into town, crying as I drive.
“She’s my first thought in the morning and my last thought at night”.
The sentencing was adjourned to December 5, in Maroochydore District Court.
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