Payne Haas’ mum slapped with new charge over horror fatal crash
‘Joan’ Taufua, the mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas, has been hit with another charge relating to a horror crash in December that claimed the lives of three people.
Police & Courts
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A Gold Coast woman who allegedly caused a horrific accident killing three people on a hinterland road has been slapped with a drink driving charge.
Uiatu “Joan” Taufua, the mother of Brisbane Broncos NRL star Payne Haas, was already facing a raft of charges over the accident which claimed the lives of retired doctor Chris Fawcett, his partner Susan Zimmer and Ms Zimmer’s daughter Steffanie over the December 30 crash at Bonogin.
During a brief appearance at Southport Magistrates Court on Thursday, the court was advised Ms Taufua now faced an additional charge of mid-range drink driving.
Ms Taufua appeared by video link from Brisbane Women’s Correctional Centre, where she is serving out an unrelated sentence for breaching parole over the accident.
With close cropped hair and in prison-issued clothing, she was only required to speak briefly before her new lawyer requested a lengthy adjournment to pore over the brief of evidence.
Outside court, defence lawyer Sophie Dagg said Ms Taufua was “highly remorseful”.
“Our thoughts are with the family in these tragic circumstances,” she said.
The case will return to court in late April.
Taufua was already facing charges of manslaughter, dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evade police and unlicensed driving.
There is no suggestion Haas had any involvement in the crash.
Taufua was on parole after serving one month of a nine-month sentence for assaulting security guards at the Gold Coast’s Star Casino when she allegedly veered on to the wrong side of the road at high speed and collided with the car being driven by Ms Zimmer as her family went out for dinner.
Police allege Taufua was spotted driving erratically when they attempted to intercept her SUV, but she allegedly evaded police and drove off at high speed.
Minutes later the officers in the patrol car were alerted by a passing motorist to the carnage which had taken place just down the road.
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