Che Proctor: Accused driver faces Melbourne court over crash that killed Lara Guglielmi

Police believe a man who allegedly left his beauty student friend for dead after a horror crash got behind the wheel of another car the next day.

Lara Guglielmi was killed in an alleged hit and run. Picture: Supplied

Police believe a man who allegedly left his beauty student friend for dead after a horror crash got behind the wheel of another car the next day, court documents reveal.

Che Proctor, 22, appeared briefly in the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Friday morning just hours after police announced they had laid charges over the deadly incident.

He was flanked in the dock by two court officers, while several members of his family sat quietly in the back of the courtroom.

Police will allege Mr Proctor was driving a stolen Kia Cerato about 1.10am on Sunday, March 26, when it collided with a Mercedes SUV in Thomastown.

The Thomastown man allegedly fled the scene before emergency services arrived, leaving his friend Lara Guglielmi, 19, to die from her injuries.

Lara Guglielmi with her stepmother Nikki and father Robert. Picture: Supplied

Three others, another female passenger in the allegedly stolen car and a man and a woman from the Mercedes were taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to charge documents before the court, police allege Mr Proctor stole the Kia Cerato, which belonged to a car rental agency, on the same day of the crash.

He’s further accused of driving without a licence, attempting to steal another car on the same day and driving while disqualified in Coburg on March 27 – the day after the crash.

Police will allege Mr Proctor was arrested at an address in the Melbourne suburb of Box Hill on Wednesday and found with methamphetamine, ecstasy and cannabis.

His arrest came after Ms Guglielmi’s family issued a public appeal for the driver of the vehicle to turn themselves in.

Ms Guglielmi died at the scene on Mahoneys Road in Thomastown. Picture: Nine News

Ms Guglielmi’s stepmother, Nicoleta Guglielmi, spoke of how dearly missed her stepdaughter would be.

“She was loved dearly and fiercely by her family and had her whole life ahead of her,” she said.

“No parent should have to bury their child, ever.”

Mr Proctor was remanded into custody by magistrate Malcolm Thomas, who asked his lawyer if Mr Proctor had any issues the court should know about.

In response his lawyer requested his young age be noted in his custody file but did not mention any injuries.

The court heard CCTV footage would make up a part of the police case against the young man.

Mr Proctor was charged with 11 offences including dangerous driving causing death, failing to render assistance and failing to remain at the scene.

He will return before the same court on August 16.

Originally published as Che Proctor: Accused driver faces Melbourne court over crash that killed Lara Guglielmi