Driver on ‘cocktail of drugs’ when he hit, killed pedestrian has bail revoked

An unlicensed driver who allegedly drove through a red light fatally hitting a pedestrian, has had his bail revoked because of further unlicensed driving.

Manpreet Singh Brar. Picture: Steve Pohlner

An unlicensed driver who allegedly drove through a red light while “on a cocktail of drugs”, fatally hitting a pedestrian, has had his bail revoked because of further unlicensed driving.

While on bail for dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death, on condition that he did not drive, Manpreet Singh Brar was twice charged with unlicensed driving.

And on one occasion when police pulled him over, Brar said he was driving for a food delivery service, Brisbane District Court heard.

Rhys Byrne, for the prosecution, asked Brisbane District Court Judge Leanne Clare to revoke Brar’s bail.

He said Brar had not abided by bail conditions while awaiting a trial for serious offences.

Mr Byrne said Brar had allegedly driven through a red light, striking another car, causing grievous bodily harm to another driver and then allegedly continued driving, striking two pedestrians.

One of the pedestrians, Kallangur man, Ian Siebel, who had been walking his dog on Anzac Ave, Kallangur, on November 1, 2020, later died.

Family and friends of Ian Siebel, who was killed when he was hit by a car while walking his dog. From left, Russell Larsen, Kerrie Larsen, Aaron Seibel, Paula Seibel and Lorene Bullivant. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Mr Byrne said Brar had been unlicensed, affected by various drugs, data showed he was driving 25 kilometres per hour over the speed limit and he gave incorrect identification details to police.

He said Brar was given bail on condition that he did not have control of a vehicle, but in November he was convicted of unlicensed driving and he was still facing another unlicensed driving charge.

When police pulled him over for a roadside drug test last month, he told them he had used drugs days earlier, although he tested negative, Mr Byrne said.

Brar’s defence counsel told the court Brar had driven once to get some material for his pregnant wife and another time to get food for his young child.

But Mr Byrne said Brar had told police when he was arrested for unlicensed driving in January that he was doing a DoorDash food delivery.

“If he was working as a delivery driver, that is quite breathtaking,” Judge Clare said.

Manpreet Singh Brar leaving the Pine Rivers Court in February last year. Picture: Steve Pohlner

She said the dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death was a serious charge and it was alleged Brar was unlicensed driving while on a cocktail of drugs and speeding.

Judge Clare said a year after being granted bail Brar committed an assault after a driving incident when he almost ran into another car, while unlicensed, and was fined $700.

She said two months later he was again out driving, claiming he did not know his license was suspended.

Judge Clare said Brar seemed determined to keep driving and had shown himself to be capable of deceit, to avoid compliance with court orders.

She said he had been fined for forgery and uttering for trying to sidestep his license suspension by applying for a licence under a false name with doctored documents.

Judge Clare said the boldness of his latest activity gave her no confidence that more bail conditions would reduce the risk of him continuing to drive.

She ordered that his bail be revoked and remanded him in custody.

Brar, who is not an Australian citizen, could face deportation to India if convicted of the dangerous driving charge, the court was told.