Lachlan Kirkpatrick changes plea to hit-and-run charge

A young man who allegedly fled the scene of a crash in Sydney’s west has changed his plea in court.

Lachlan Kirkpatrick has pleaded not guilty to a charge of failing to stop and assist relating to a crash in South Penrith last June. Picture: Facebook.

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EDITOR'S NOTE: Update on outcome of proceedings: The prosecution withdrew the fail to stop and assist charge relating to the June 16 crash in South Penrith.  On 24 June 2020, Mr Kirkpatrick was convicted of negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to a community corrections order 

A young man who police allege fled the scene of a crash that left a passenger with multiple leg and foot fractures has changed his plea.

Lachlan Kirkpatrick, 20, of Glenmore Park, previously pleaded guilty to negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm and fail to stop and assist relating to the June 16 crash in South Penrith.

However, Kirkpatrick’s lawyer launched a bid to change his plea to the charge of fail to stop and assist.

Police were called to a car accident on Evan St, South Penrith, at about 9.45pm to reports a car had crashed into a parked ute.

On arrival, police allegedly found two passengers trapped inside a car with the driver not in the vicinity.

The two passengers were taken to Nepean Hospital with leg injuries.

Lachlan Kirkpatrick will face a hearing after changing his plea to not guilty on a charge of failing to stop and assist.

Kirkpatrick was later arrested at his Glenmore Park home, as police allege he was driving the vehicle.

A court heard last year that Kirkpatrick was in breach of a 9pm curfew on bail from a previous assault charge.

He again found himself in trouble with police in November last year when he was caught using a mobile phone while driving on The Northern Rd, Orchard Hills.

Today in Penrith court, Kirkpatrick’s lawyer gave Magistrate Geoffrey Hiatt an affidavit saying his client was changing his plea from guilty to not guilty.

The prosecution did not oppose the plea traversal.

Magistrate Hiatt granted Kirkpatrick’s request, saying his original plea was “not a conscious acknowledgment of guilt”.

Kirkpatrick’s lawyer said he would be working to have the fail to stop and assist charged withdrawn.

He will next appear before Penrith Local Court for a hearing on June 24.