Sea World helicopter crash pilot’s name allegedly used by Stephanie Louise Bennett, 33, to get out of traffic fine
The woman who used dead Sea World chopper pilot Ash Jenkinson’s details to get out of a traffic fine is set to learn her fate after a magistrate delivered a warning to her lawyer.
Police & Courts
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The woman who snatched details from Ash Jenkinson’s obituary days after he died in the tragic Sea World helicopter crash and nominated him as a driver to avoid her own traffic fine is to be sentenced in May.
Stephanie Louise Bennett, 33, on Wednesday indicated she intended to plead guilty to one count of fraud and one count of obtaining or dealing with another’s identity in the Beenleigh Magistrates Court.
But Magistrate Terry Duroux told her lawyer Zane Chapman that he should not to “rush through” the matter.
Magistrate Duroux explained that Ms Bennett’s case needed at least 30 minutes to be properly heard, rather than the maximum 15 minutes allowed in the busy callover court.
“I’m well aware of why the press is here today, I’m just putting you on notice,” Magistrate Duroux said.
“There are two fraud type charges before me and the maximum penalty I believe is around five years (imprisonment).
“Sufficient time should be given for the parties to make extensive submissions as to what they say the penalty may or may not be, and for the court to have sufficient time to consider the relevant authorities.
“I believe there are authorities (past like-cases) I should be referred to.”
Ms Bennett has admitted to nominating dead Sea World pilot Ash Jenkinson as the driver of her car on January 9, after she received an infringement notice for driving while using her mobile phone in December.
Mr Jenkinson’s grieving widow received the fine notice on January 19, weeks after he and three others were killed in the devastating mid-air helicopter collision.
On Wednesday, Ms Bennett sat nervously in the Beenleigh Court public gallery on Wednesday awaiting her matter to be heard.
The court was told she had previously attempted to plead guilty via an apologetic email instead of appearing before the court in person, but this was rejected by Magistrate Duroux.
In the letter, Ms Bennet apologised for the fraud, writing that she was “immensely regretful” of her actions.
She said she was facing “financial troubles” at the time she fraudulently used Mr Jenkinson’s details and had tried to “undo” the driver nomination the next day after “remembering what she did.”
“I did not know the person I nominated, I found his information via the obituary,” Ms Bennett wrote.
“The following day I remembered what I did and tried to undo it by attempting to nominate myself but the website didn’t accept it.”
Guided by Magistrate Duroux’s advice, Mr Chapman conceded to changing Ms Bennett’s matter to a lengthy plea and the matter was adjourned to May.
Ms Bennett again covered herself and refused to speak with media as she exited court.
Members of the public heckled her, calling her actions “shameful” and “f***ed up”.
She is expected to be sentenced in court on May 19.
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