Linda Britton Nambucca manslaughter trial hears from first officer on scene

A court has heard of a desperate triple-0 call on the night two women lost their lives after being pinned under a car at Nambucca Heads.

The jury at a double-manslaughter case being heard at Coffs Harbour has been shown confronting police body-camera footage.

Senior Constable Cian Durbidge took the witness stand on Tuesday at the District Court.

He and a probationary constable were the first police officers on scene at Nambucca Heads the night two young women were trapped under a vehicle in the plaza shopping centre carpark.

Linda Britton is accused of hitting the women, including her own daughter, Skye Luland, with a car on September 28, 2019.

Ms Luland, 24, and Kazzandra Widders, 20, died at the scene.

Ms Britton, 54, has pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter charges, including alternate charges of dangerous driving occasioning death.

Snr Cnst Durbidge - a 10-year officer attached to the Nambucca Heads station - told the court he was on patrol when they were called at 10.20pm to investigate a call about an alleged assault.

The complainant alleged Ms Luland had stepped in front of a car on Giinagay Way, after which three or four girls got out of the vehicle and assaulted her.

While the complainant was being interviewed by police, Ms Britton and her partner David Luland arrived at the address.

Snr Cnst Durbidge said “Linda (Britton) was very upset that something adverse had happened to (her daughter) Skye”.

The officers resumed patrolling Nambucca Heads - “our priority was finding Skye” - finally locating her and David Luland, who had also been looking for her, near the boardwalk by the Visitor Information Centre.

Snr Cnst Durbidge told the court Ms Luland was “dismissive” about the earlier alleged street incident, and did not appear to be injured.

But she mentioned a $1500 mobile phone might have been taken from her, or she may have left it at a nearby bus shelter, he told the court.

Snr Cnst Durbridge said David Luland told police he and Skye were heading home.

Shortly after, Snr Cnst Durbidge said he spotted Ms Luland at a bus shelter on the edge of the Nambucca Plaza carpark and asked if she‘d found her phone. “No, but good night,” he said was the reply.

The jury trial before Judge Jonathan Preistley also heard of a triple-0 call from a resident alarmed by noises coming from the plaza carpark.

The caller said it “sounds brutal” and that ”you can tell that they‘re punching on” - before telling the operator that her partner who was outside reported that ”someone’s stuck under a car”.

Snr Cnst Burbidge said they received a radio message at 11.56pm about a massive brawl at the plaza, and under lights and sirens were on-scene in around 30 seconds.

Two women were pinned under the vehicle and Snr Cnst Burbidge said Mr Luland was behind the wheel but had told him “it wasn‘t me driving, officer”.

“The full weight of the vehicle was on the girls,” Snr Cnst Burbidge said.

A member of the public was able to jack the car, and officers started CPR until paramedics took over.

The trial continues.