Jesshua Readdy charged with manslaughter over a fatal crash near Townsville

The driver of a car allegedly involved in a horror crash which claimed the lives of a beloved grandmother and two-year-old boy has fronted court for the first time.

THE day a beloved grandmother taken in a horror three-car crash was laid to rest, the man charged over the incident fronted court for the first time.

Jesshua Errol Richard Readdy, 22, appeared beside a duty lawyer in Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday before Magistrate Viviana Keegan.

Readdy is charged with three counts of grievous bodily harm and two counts of manslaughter over the October 31 fatal crash at Julago, south of Townsville.

Jesshua Readdy leaves the Townsville court precinct after his first mention.

Police allege around 5pm Readdy was driving a Toyota LandCruiser with a passenger, a 30-year-old Kelso man, southbound on the Bruce Highway when the car struck a Toyota Corolla, which then collided head-on with a Mazda 3 heading north.

Donna Chapman, a 47-year-old mother and grandmother from Ayr, died at the scene.

Ms Chapman’s daughter, Jade, and her son Aziz were passengers in the car with another child.

Aziz Borne.

Jade and Aziz were transported to hospital in a critical condition.

Tragically, Aziz Borne, 2, died in hospital on November 4 from injuries sustained from the crash.

The 44-year-old driver of the Corolla, a Rasmussen man, was uninjured.

The tragic deaths sent shockwaves through the Burdekin and Townsville community, with many remembering Donna as the “life of the party” and a “beautiful” person.

Readdy was first issued a notice to appear on charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death whilst adversely affected, but were charges were changed on November 5 to the three counts of grievous bodily harm and two of manslaughter.

Duty lawyer Lisa McNamara told the court that Readdy had already submitted an application for Legal Aid.

Ms McNamara told Ms Keegan she estimated the brief of evidence would take “some time” to compile.

Readdy’s bail was enlarged, and his appearance will be required at his next mention on January 13, 2022.

Originally published as Jesshua Readdy charged with manslaughter over a fatal crash near Townsville