Mitchell Ryan Laidlaw: man responsible for Sue Salthouse’s death hit with new charges

The man whose culpable driving resulted in the death of 2020 ACT Senior Australian of the Year Sue Salthouse has had his bail revoked after facing new charges.

The man whose culpable driving cost the life of beloved disability activist Sue Salthouse has had his bail revoked in the ACT Supreme Court.

Ms Salthouse died in July 2020 following a crash on the Commonwealth Ave bridge while driving a wheelchair accessible motorcycle.

Mitchell Ryan Laidlaw pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing the death in the ACT Supreme Court in March and was due to be sentenced for the crime on Friday.

Laidlaw has been on bail since charges were brought against him.

Disability advocate Sue Salthouse died in a crash on the Commonwealth Ave Bridge in July 2020. Picture: AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

On Friday the ACT Supreme Court heard Laidlaw had been charged with multiple driving offences while on bail, which are due to be heard in the ACT Magistrates Court.

He is charged with drug driving and driving while suspended in relation to an alleged incident on June 23.

He is also facing a second charge of driving while suspended, driving unregistered and using a number plate not properly issued relating to another alleged incident on July 9.

Laidlaw has not entered pleas for any of the new charges.

ACT Chief Justice Lucy McCallum told the court up until this point all parties had essentially agreed a community-based order rather than full-time imprisonment would be the appropriate course of action.

Justice McCallum said that previous conclusion was based on information provided by Laidlaw that was untrue.

“The offender has misled others and himself on his own drug use,” she said.

Justice McCallum raised the possibility of moving Laidlaw to the Supreme Court’s Drug and Alcohol sentencing list, but noted if he pleaded guilty to the matters in the magistrates court he would be ineligible for the program.

In regards to Laidlaw’s alleged offending and drug use, Justice McCallum said “this man is spiralling”.

The man whose culpable driving resulted in the death of Sue Salthouse has had his bail revoked. Picture: Supplied

Laidlaw’s lawyer told the court his client had used drugs in his teens but had a ten year period of being drug free.

He said Laidlaw was the breadwinner for his family and had a new job lined up for him as a roofer.

The lawyer said his family had fallen on hard times, were unable to pay rent, and had been evicted from the family home.

Following the Crown’s application to revoke bail, Justice McCallum raised concerns about the toll custody would have on the offender.

She said Laidlaw had never been in custody and said while drug rehabilitation programs were usually available in prison, it was still a “harsh environment” and stated Covid-19 had forced many of these programs to halt.

The Judge ultimately revoked his bail, telling the court she wasn’t prepared to take the risk of allowing Laidlaw to reoffend further in the community.

The case will return to the ACT Supreme Court on July 25.