David Blake accused of killing Mal Hackett has case dismissed

A Wagga taxi driver who had been accused of a hit-and-run that left a 51-year-old man dead by the side of the road has had his charges withdrawn.

A taxi driver accused of killing a man in a hit-and-run case has had the charges withdrawn from court after a video was rejected as admissible evidence.

In November 2019, David Edward Blake was charged with one count of failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing the death following an alleged hit-and-run in Wagga

Mr Blake was driving a taxi when 51-year-old Junee man, Mal Hackett was hit by a car on Red Hill Road at Glenfield Park in October 2019.

David Edward Blake has had his charges withdrawn in Wagga Local Court.

On October 8 at Wagga District Court, the Crown prosecution withdrew the case after parts of a police interrogation video were rejected as evidence.

On August 27, at Wagga District Court, Judge Gordon Lerve ruled that parts of the police interrogation video would not be permitted as evidence in the court after both parties had argued whether the police interrogation video could be tendered during a trial earlier this year.

The court heard concerns regarding the video were raised as at the time of the interview that Mr Blake was a vulnerable person and ultimately wasn’t offered the opportunity to have a support person with him during his arrest and interview.

Mr Blake entered a plea of not guilty in court on April 15, 2020.

Mr Blake’s legal representative, Zac Tankard, told the court there would be an application for costs associated with the matter.