Joanne McAuley: Shock decision in case of driver who killed cyclist Shui Ki Chan

There has been a major twist in the case of a Darling Downs woman who allegedly swerved into the path of an oncoming cyclist, killing him.

A charge of murder against a Darling Downs motorist who allegedly swerved into the path of an oncoming cyclist has been sensationally dropped a fortnight before her trial was due to begin.

Newtown woman Joanne Marie McAuley, 49, instead entered a plea of guilty to the lesser charge of the manslaughter of Hong Kong man Shui Ki Chan, 25, who was discovered dead on the side of the Warrego Highway at Lawes near the University of Queensland’s Gatton Campus on August 23, 2012, having been struck by McAuley the previous night.

After entering her plea, McAuley sobbed loudly in the dock.

Newtown woman Joanne Marie McAuley. Picture: File

McAuley has been remanded in pre-sentence custody since July 2018 after an inquest into Mr Chan’s death recommended charges be laid against the woman.

The inquest determined Mr Chan had been struck the night prior to his discovery, a short time after finishing his shift at a nearby McDonald’s restaurant at about 7.40pm

It found he died not of his injuries but of hypothermia after being left for dead on the side of the road.

Police investigate the hit and run death of 25-year-old man Shui Ki Chan beside the Warrego Hwy near Gatton in August 2012. Picture: Sarah Fleming / Gatton Star

The inquest also heard McAuley admitted to two separate people she had run down the man.

McAuley’s murder trial was to begin on November 8 but that sitting has now been vacated after the Crown preferred the lesser charge of manslaughter.

McAuley will be sentenced on November 29, with Mr Chan’s family set to tune in remotely from Hong Kong to learn the fate of their son’s killer.