Tia Cameron’s mother Jade Te Awhitu says bus driver trial delays ‘closure’

The mother of a young woman fatally struck by a Brisbane City Council bus in the CBD says she’s devastated after lawyers for the driver revealed he would fight a criminal charge over the tragedy.

Emergency crews at the scene of the bus accident on Edward St in Brisbane’s CBD. Picture: NewsWire / Steve Pohlner

The mother of a young woman who was fatally struck by a Brisbane City Council bus in the CBD says she’s devastated she will have to wait for “closure” after lawyers for the bus driver revealed he would fight a criminal charge over the tragedy.

Tia Cameron, 18, died after the bus allegedly mounted the footpath and pinned her against the Anzac Square building in the city on March 8 last year.

She had just come out of a beauty salon and was on her way to meet her aunty for cocktails when the tragedy happened.

Tia Cameron, 18, was on her way to have cocktails with her aunt. Photo: Facebook.

The bus driver, Lindsay Francis Selby, 71, was charged last June with careless driving causing death over the incident.

Brisbane Magistrates Court erupted in cries of “oh my God” from Tia’s family on Wednesday when it was revealed Mr Selby planned to defend the charge, meaning they will have to go through the agony of a trial.

Lawyers for Mr Selby, who was not present in court, successfully applied for a trial date in September.

Tia’s mother, Jade Te Awhitu, told The Courier-Mail the family was devastated at the “heartbreaking” legal development which she said would prolong the family’s suffering.

“As a mother, I tried to prepare myself for (the court appearance) – emotionally and mentally, we expected Mr Selby, the lead prosecutor and the presiding judge to be present. That didn’t happen,” she said.

Lindsay Selby did not appear in court on Wednesday when his lawyers applied for a trial date in September. File picture: AAP Image/Darren England

“It was meant to be a plea hearing, a step toward some kind of closure. But instead, the defence abruptly chose to proceed to trial.

“No parent should have to go through this. Our children should feel safe walking on a footpath. They should come home.”

Mr Selby will be represented at the trial by one of Australia’s top barristers, Saul Holt KC.

Mr Holt successfully defended murder charges against Gold Coast playboy Gable Tostee and alleged Lone Wolf bikie Brodie Singh.

Originally published as Tia Cameron’s mother Jade Te Awhitu says bus driver trial delays ‘closure’