Truckie Emmanuel Xiberras pleads not guilty to hit and run of Allambie Heights grandmother

A MAN accused of the hit and run death of Allambie Heights grandmother Jo-Ann Thwaites allegedly laughed after a witness questioned whether he had been involved in an accident.

Lilydale Chickens driver Emmanuel Xiberras, 36, appearing in court over the hit and run death of Jo-Ann Thwaites. Picture: Braden Fastier

A MAN accused of the hit and run death of Allambie Heights grandmother Jo-Ann Thwaites allegedly laughed after a witness questioned whether he had been involved in an accident.

Emmanuel Xiberras, 36, pleaded not guilty in Manly Court today to charges of negligent driving occasioning death and failure to stop and give assistance to Mrs Thwaites, 60.

She was allegedly hit and dragged on May 20 by a truck driven by Mr Xiberras at the corner of Old Pittwater Rd and Condamine St.

She was then run over by a second truck.

Mrs Thwaites with her sons Johnathan, and Nicholas and grandchild Cassie on Mother’s Day.

Police at the scene of the crash. Picture: Troy Snook

Magistrate Andrew George refused to lift a temporary driving ban imposed on Mr Xiberras, as part of his bail conditions, arguing that the ban was in the public interest.

It came after police prosecutor Sergeant Cheryl Jimmieson said Mr Xiberras “laughed it off” the incident when approached by a witness.

She told the court that Mr Xiberras had “been stopped by a witness and told ‘did you see what you ran over? It looks like blood all over the back of your truck’ ... the defendant laughed”.

“He laughed it off.”

Later, he allegedly stopped to remove clothes from his truck, she said.

Sgt Jimmieson told the court: “He looked under the vehicle and grabbed material wrapped around the drive shaft.

“He put it in a skip bin.”

Lilydale Chickens driver Emmanuel Xiberras (centre) in court over the hit and run death of Jo-Ann Thwaites. Picture: Braden Fastier

Sgt Jimmieson said he should not be allowed to remain behind the wheel due to the serious charges.

“This happened directly in front of him, how he could not have seen this woman was beyond belief,” she said.

She said his driving record — including 16 demerit points since 2011 — should also be taken into account.

Mr Xiberras’ lawyer Leonardo Premutico argued that his employment was at stake if he was unable to drive until a trial, which could be as late as 2018.

He called the police’s case “weak “ stating that the suggestion there was an element of negligence was unfounded.

“Horrible things happen in life every day, sometimes they are accidental, sometimes they are deliberate,” he said, indicating that he did not believe his client had been negligent.

Mr Xiberras was bailed to appear before Downing Centre Court on August 9.