Maryborough triple-fatal teenage boy pleads guilty
The teenager behind the wheel of a stolen speeding car that caused the deaths of a church pastor, a nurse and a 17-year-old girl has pleaded guilty and is set to be sentenced later this year.
Police & Courts
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The teenager behind the wheel of a stolen speeding car that caused a triple fatal crash has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing deaths and grievous bodily harm.
The boy, who was 13 at the time and cannot be identified, was due to appear in Brisbane Childrens Court on Tuesday but refused to get on the bus from the detention centre.
Instead he appeared via video link and was arraigned.
The court heard that the boy and several friends took a silver Mercedes from a home in Maryborough and took turns driving it on April 30 last year
While the 13-year-old was driving between Maryborough and Hervey Bay he drove dangerously and at excessive speed causing the deaths of church pastor Michale Chandler, 29, dancer Kelsie Davies, 17, and nurse Sheree Robertson, 52.
A fourth person, Kaylah Behrens, who was in court today for the arraignment, was seriously injured.
Police have said the youth while driving hit the back of a Holden sedan on Saltwater Creek Rd in Maryborough at night.
As a result the Holden, carrying Ms Chandler, Ms Davies and Ms Behrens was pushed into the path of Ms Robertson who was driving back to Hervey Bay after working a shift at Maryborough Hospital.
After significant delays in the arraignment process the youth pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing deaths and grievous bodily harm while excessively speeding.
He also pleaded guilty to two counts of unlawful use of a motor vehicle at night and one count of receiving tainted property.
Judge Deborah Richards ordered a pre-sentence report which is expected to take a number of months.
She also ordered a restorative justice conference take place if parties, including victims’ families, wanted to participate.
The matter was adjourned for sentence to November 18 in Hervey Bay Childrens Court.
The youth was remanded in custody.
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