Court releases Carlie Richards’ police interview after fatal Port River Expressway crash
A woman accused of killing a young artist in a horror crash can be heard laughing as police tell her the charges and giving a strange explanation for her actions.
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A woman told a police officer she was “running for her life” after hearing she was charged with causing the death of another driver in a bizarre police interview.
Carlie Eileen Richards, 40, is standing trial in the District Court after claiming she was suffering from delusions at the time of the horror Port River Expressway crash.
In Richards’ police interview released to The Advertiser by the court she can be heard laughing when told she is also charged with causing serious harm by dangerous driving.
When asked if she understands Richards replies: “I was running for my life OK? Do you understand that?”
Richards is then asked if she wants to answer any questions.
“I don’t want to answer questions but I just want to tell you how it f***ing is,” she replies.
“Do the investigation yourself, put me in jail, I don’t care.”
Richards has pleaded not guilty to causing death and harm by dangerous driving, on the basis of mental incompetence and that she didn’t know the wrongfulness of her actions at the time.
However, she pleaded guilty to leaving the accident scene after causing death and harm by careless driving.
Rob Walker, for the prosecution, told the court Ms Richards, who had a small quantity of meth in her system, was driving a motor vehicle on the Port River Expressway on November 1, 2022.
The court heard for 13 seconds leading up to the collision Richards drove at an average speed of 157km/h.
Dashcam footage shows Richards overtaking a vehicle at speed, before rear-ending a Toyota Prius, which “catapulted” into an oncoming lane of traffic, hitting a Kia Cerato and then a truck immediately after.
Lisa Hoy was driving the Prius, with her twin sister Erica in the front passenger seat and Erica’s boyfriend, Michael Reader in the rear seat.
“Erica Hoy … died as a result of the intrusion of the truck on the oncoming lane,” Mr Walker said.
The court heard Lisa suffered several injuries, including damage to her pelvis and kidney and a broken nose.
Mr Reader suffered broken ribs and injuries to his lungs, liver, kidney and pelvis, while the Kia driver also suffered harm.
Giving evidence, forensic psychiatrist Hoa Nguyen told the court Richards was previously diagnosed with a schizo-affective disorder, which is a combination of bipolar illness and schizophrenia.
The court heard Richards was suffering from delusions at the time of the alleged offending, including believing that a “small security vehicle was following her”, which is why she drove erratically.
Judge Carmen Matteo has reserved her judgment.
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Originally published as Court releases Carlie Richards’ police interview after fatal Port River Expressway crash
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