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Nicola Teo: Charlie Teo’s daughter to stand trial over Jock Ross crash

Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo’s daughter will stand trial over a serious crash involving the former boss of the Comanchero bikies after pleading not guilty today. She was warned that if convicted she would likely face jail.

Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo with his daughter Nicola, 24, who will stand trial for dangerous driving over a serious crash in the Hawkesbury last September. Picture: Facebook
Neurosurgeon Charlie Teo with his daughter Nicola, 24, who will stand trial for dangerous driving over a serious crash in the Hawkesbury last September. Picture: Facebook

The daughter of acclaimed neurosurgeon Charlie Teo will stand trial on a dangerous driving charge over a serious crash in the Hawkesbury last year which left an ex-bikie boss critically injured.

Nicola Annabel Teo, 24, will fight a charge of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm after pleading not guilty at Penrith District Court on Friday.

Police allege Teo crossed onto the wrong side of Settlers Rd, Lower Macdonald, and travelled for up to 200 metres, when her Toyota Land Cruiser crashed into a Harley Davidson driven by former Comanchero boss William George ‘Jock’ Ross on September 25, 2019.

Nicola Teo at an earlier court appearance at Windsor Local Court. Picture: John Grainger
Nicola Teo at an earlier court appearance at Windsor Local Court. Picture: John Grainger

Mr Ross, 76, suffered critical leg and internal injuries and was flown to Westmead Hospital.

Teo also faces charges of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, not keeping left of the dividing line and failing to give particulars to police.

The court is yet to indicate how these charges will progress.

Court documents said Teo faced the “likelihood” of a jail sentence if she was convicted.

She appeared via video link in court today from her solicitor, Darren Emery’s office, when she was formally arraigned on the dangerous driving charge.

The court heard the trial would draw on evidence from Mr Ross, two eyewitnesses, several police witnesses and various medical experts who treated Mr Ross for his injuries.

Former Comanchero bikie boss William George ‘Jock’ Ross suffered critical injuries in the crash. Picture: Richard Dobson
Former Comanchero bikie boss William George ‘Jock’ Ross suffered critical injuries in the crash. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Crown Prosecutor and Mr Emery disagreed over the potential length of the trial, with the Director of Public Prosecutions estimating seven days.

Mr Emery, however, expected it to take longer.

“Realistically there is no way this trial will run for less than 10 days,” he said.

The defence called for the set down of a trial date to be held over until August to allow for extra time to obtain reports from a forensic neurologist and crash reconstruction experts.

The scene of the crash on Settlers Rd, Lower Macdonald. Picture: 9 News
The scene of the crash on Settlers Rd, Lower Macdonald. Picture: 9 News

Due to extensive trial delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Judge Jennifer English said it would be in the defences’ interest to set a trial date sooner rather than later.

A date for trial will be set when the case returns to the Sydney District Court in August.

Teo will be excused from appearing in court that day. She remains on bail but is banned from driving a motor vehicle.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/penrith-press/nicola-teo-charlie-teos-daughter-to-stand-trial-over-jock-ross-crash/news-story/24f32ca6666c9a642d65580bc456468a