Former AFL player Shannon Cox player pleads guilty to manslaughter over fatal crash

A former AFL player has pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter over a crash that killed two elderly women.

Former Collingwood player Shannon John Cox has pleaded guilty to charges laid over a fatal crash that killed two elderly women.

Cox pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawfully killed another under circumstances as to not constitute murder in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

He was behind the wheel of a Toyota Prado when it collided with a Suzuki Ignis hatchback on the Brand Highway in Cooljarloo, about 170km north of Perth, at 9am on June 9.

Two women, aged 82 and 83, travelling in the hatchback died at the scene.

Cox’s 12-year-old daughter was also injured during the incident.

Five St John ambulances and two RAC Rescue helicopters were deployed to the scene; however, the helicopters were stood down.

Cox only spoke in court to plead “guilty” to the two charges.

His lawyer, Paul Holmes, said the plea followed advice he gave his client.

A pre-sentence and psychological report has been ordered by the court before Cox is sentenced on August 26.

Former Collingwood player Shannon Cox has pleaded guilty to manslaughter. Picture: Supplied

Originally published as Former AFL player Shannon Cox player pleads guilty to manslaughter over fatal crash