Richard Alexander Davis fighting manslaughter, dangerous driving charges in Lismore District Court trial
A man has denied deliberately causing a crash which killed an elderly couple on the North Coast. He’s hit back during a heated trial underway in Lismore.
Regional News
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A Brunswick Heads man on trial has strongly denied prosecution accusations he deliberately crashed his car into an elderly couple in an attempt to take his own life on Father’s Day in 2019.
Richard Alexander Davis, 32, has pleaded not guilty in Lismore District Court to two counts of manslaughter and two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death.
Mr Davis’s car slammed head on into a car occupied by an elderly couple on Mullumbimby Rd, 2km south of Mullumbimby, about 11.45am on September 1, 2019.
Passenger Anne Bolan, 79, died at the scene while the driver, her husband Peter Bolan, 80, died several days later.
Mr Davis is alleged to have driven on the wrong side of Mullumbimby Rd for about 400 metres before the crash, avoiding an oncoming car before his vehicle moved back into the wrong lane, accelerated and struck the Bolans’ car.
Mr Davis argues he suffered an epileptic seizure and that he has no memory of the crash.
He told the court the last thing he remembered was getting into his car, before he woke on the ground next to the wreckage of the cars covered in blood.
On Wednesday, the prosecution accused Mr Davis of “losing his nerve” during an attempt to take his own life, swerving to avoid the first car before slamming into the Bolans’ car.
Mr Davis appeared agitated and told the court he found the suggestion “insulting”.
He said he had a holiday in Japan planned before the crash occurred.
The prosecution told the court 4.6 kilometres of driving Mr Davis undertook between his home and the site of the crash was “voluntary” and “wilful”.
Neurological evidence presented on Tuesday deemed it plausible Mr Davis could have had a seizure and continued to drive relatively normally before a convulsion led to accidental acceleration and the crash.
Mr and Mrs Bolan’s family including their son filled one side of the public gallery, watching on as Mr Davis denied allegations against him.
His mother, father and brother have also watched the proceedings from the gallery.
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