NewsBite

Warwick Mirzikinian’s Tesla ‘intensified sun’ in Julien Trameaux crash

An eastern suburbs poker champion’s Tesla car inadvertently intensified the sun in the lead up to a fatal crash involving a cyclists, it has been alleged in court. The noiseless Tesla smashed into the UberEats rider as the sun set on a November day back in 2017.

Warwick Mirzikinian enters the Downing centre. Picture John Grainger
Warwick Mirzikinian enters the Downing centre. Picture John Grainger

A Point Piper poker champ responsible for killing a young French UberEats cyclist at Double Bay was impacted by the sun, a court has heard.

Father-of-six Warwick Mirzikinian, who previously told the court ‘not a day goes by’ that he doesn’t think about the man he hit and killed, Julien Trameaux, in a noiseless Tesla, was impacted by a number of factors including the sun shining directly in his eyes.

Mirzikinian, a statistical market analyst, has previously pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death on New South Head Rd in November 2017.

Julien Trameaux. Photo: Facebook
Julien Trameaux. Photo: Facebook

In closing submissions for Mirzikinian’s sentence hearing, the court heard a number of factors had led to the tragedy including a narrow kerbside lane, Mirzikinian’s driving and the sun shining directly into the driver’s eyeline.

Dashcam footage was played to the Downing Centre District Court from a bus travelling along New South Head Rd about the time of the collision, demonstrating the blazing sun about 6.30pm on November 13, 2017.

Mirzikinian’s barrister told Judge Chris O’Brien sworn statements by experts revealed the curved screen of the Tesla car would have intensified the impact of the setting sun.

Kristy Mirzikinian and her husband Warwick Mirzikinian.
Kristy Mirzikinian and her husband Warwick Mirzikinian.

“(The sun) is one of those factors that led to his death,” the barrister said. (One of the factors was) clearly the actions of Mr Mirzikinian by failing to keep a proper lookout.”

The barrister also called on the court to discount Mirzikinian’s sentence on three different levels because of his guilty plea, his significant remorse and due to COVID-19.

Mirzikinian will be sentenced on November 9.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/newslocal/wentworth-courier/warwick-mirzikinians-tesla-intensified-sun-in-julien-trameaux-crash/news-story/2c25c100ccdc15cc9d0dde6567b73122