Anne Bourke death: Killer driver Katie Holmes granted parole to attend drug rehab

A woman caught driving while disqualified just months after being released from jail for killing a female pedestrian while speeding and with meth in her system has again been granted parole – this time to go to drug rehab.

Katie Holmes was caught driving while disqualified on the New England Highway at Whittingham. Picture: Google Maps.

A woman caught driving while disqualified just months after being released for killing a female pedestrian while speeding and with meth in her system has again been granted parole – this time to be admitted into a drug rehabilitation course.

Katie Holmes had her parole revoked in September, just weeks after she was charged with driving a car along a major highway despite being disqualified and just months after she was conditionally released after serving time over the death of Anne Bourke.

The Upper Hunter woman had been sentenced to a maximum of three years and three months in jail with a non-parole period of 21 months after a jury found her guilty of dangerous driving occasioning the death of Ms Bourke.

Experts told her trial that Holmes was estimated to be travelling up to 94km/h in a 60km/h zone when her car struck Ms Bourke as she crossed Main Rd at Heddon Greta in 2020, and tests later revealed she had methamphetamine and amphetamine in her system.

Holmes was released on conditional parole in April this year before she was pulled over by police on the New England Highway at Whttingham on August 31 after driving more than 70km from Scone despite being disqualified.

Katie Holmes leaves Newcastle Courthouse on April 1, 2021. Picture: Emily Burley.

A preliminary drug test also allegedly showed signs of meth in her system,

She was charged and granted bail by the courts before her parole was revoked in September.

Katie Holmes

Anne Bourke

She later pleaded guilty to disqualified driving and was sentenced to a 12-month community corrections order when she faced magistrate Kevin Hockey in Singleton Local Court in October.

But despite not being sentenced to more jail time, Holmes remained behind bars before her first bid for freedom failed on November 5 when the NSW State Parole Authority determined there was a necessity for Holmes to undergo ongoing drug rehabilitation to “address her risk of reoffending”.

Holmes faced the authority again on Tuesday, where she was granted conditional parole to attend a rehabilitation facility and enter into a program.

“The State Parole Authority today rescinded a revocation order for inmate Katie Holmes after it was confirmed she will enter a drug rehabilitation facility for treatment,” the authority said in a statement.

Holmes will be released no later than tomorrow.

Her full sentence on the dangerous driving occasioning death charge was due to expire on October 25 next year, although that has now been extended to November 16 next year following the revocation.