Not-guilty plea after Joan Ellen Smith charged following Calvin Wijeweera death at Carlingford

A 91-year-old woman who was charged after a schoolboy was killed in a northwest Sydney crash will fight the charges. Read the latest from court.

An elderly woman who was charged after a schoolboy was killed at a crash near a Carlingford shopping centre last year will fight the charges.

Epping woman Joan Ellen Smith was charged with negligent driving (occasioning death) and negligent driving (no death or grievous bodily harm) after 17-year-old Calvin Wijeweera died while walking near Carlingford Court with mates on the morning of December 1.

Smith was driving a Mitsubishi Lancer sedan which reportedly had left the road and struck two teenage boys walking on the footpath.

Paramedics treated Calvin but he died at the scene on Rembrandt St. A second boy, also aged 17, suffered a head injury and was taken to hospital in a stable condition.

On March 19, Smith, who suffered a leg injury, was charged and initially due to front court in May when she was excused from appearing.

Calvin Wijeweera, far right, with his sister Ovindi, dad Sandun and mum Anoma.

At Burwood Court on Tuesday, her barrister John Galluzzo told the court the matter had been adjourned “a couple of times” because the Director of Public Prosecutions would take on the matter, which had a brief of four volumes.

The police prosecutor said a plea had to be entered before Mr Galluzzo entered a not-guilty plea on behalf of Smith, who was again excused from appearing.

The matter was adjourned to the same court on August 15.

Calvin, who would have been studying for his HSC this year, was remembered as a gentle boy who was loved by his family, friends and teachers at Carlingford High School.

During the eulogy of his funeral at St Gerard Majella’s Catholic Church, Calvin’s older sister Ovindi lauded her brother.

“You had a short life but a tremendously beautiful one,’’ she said.

“Though your life was only 17 years long, you have touched the hearts of hundreds of people.’’