Elise Hodder death: Connor Mathiasson pleads guilty to some charges, denies others after model’s rave death

A young man who hit and killed a Melbourne model with his car after attending a rave has admitted responsibility for her death.

The young man who killed Melbourne model Elise Hodder with his car as he attempted to leave a rave has pleaded guilty to some charges while denying others.

Elise Hodder, 24, died in the early hours of October 13 last year after she became trapped under a car driven by Connor Mathiasson, 24, in a carpark at Sir Zelman Cowen Park in Kooyong.

Mathiasson returned before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Monday afternoon where he formally pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing Ms Hodder’s death and dangerous driving causing serious injury to a second woman, Emma Swords.

But he pleaded not guilty to the alternative charges of culpable driving causing death and negligently causing serious injury.

Mathiasson has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

Ms Hodder, a model and pool lifeguard, died after she was trapped under Mathiasson’s car. Picture: Facebook

“Connor has always accepted responsibility for the incident,” defence barrister Rishi Nathwani KC told the court, as his client was committed to the County Court to stand trial on the remaining two charges.

Previously, prosecutors have alleged Mathiasson was unlicensed, three times over the alcohol limit and under the influence of cannabis when he got behind the wheel about 1.10am.

He was allegedly attempting to reverse out of the carpark as police arrived to break up the rave, striking three pedestrians including Ms Hodder, who became trapped under the car.

Ms Hodder has been remembered as a passionate, warm and deeply loved young woman. Picture: Facebook.

More than a dozen friends and family of Ms Hodder were present during the brief hearing.

Outside of court, Ms Hodder’s parents Michael and Pauline, said her family and friends remained “completely shattered” by her death.

Mr Hodder slammed what he described as a broken justice system that treats offenders with more respect than their victims.

“Our daughter is dead and she should not be. We are absolutely distraught,“ he said.

“Criminal offenders in this state have been elevated to victims, that is not the case and must change. We are the victims, not the offenders … and we are absolutely alienated.

“Clearly this state needs some proper governance in place in relation to dealing with victims at the moment it’s dispersed, it’s fragmented, it’s not organised.”

Michael and Pauline Hodder. Picture: NewsWire / Liam Beatty

Pauline Hodder said their daughter’s violent and traumatic death continues to haunt her family and community.

“It’s every parent’s nightmare … and that’s been the fate of our daughter who was the softest, gentlest, most beautiful person,” she said.

“This is not how she deserved to die.”

The 24-year-old fish and chips shop worker covered his face as he left court. Picture: NewsWire / Liam Beatty

Ms Hodder’s parents have set up a fundraiser through Laps for Life, a month-long swim challenge to raise funds for youth mental health and suicide prevention, in her memory.

So far, it has raised more than $52,000.

Mathiasson remains under strict bail conditions after his father stumped up a $100,000 surety following his arrest in October last year.

He will next appear in the County Court on April 14.

Originally published as Elise Hodder death: Connor Mathiasson pleads guilty to some charges, denies others after model’s rave death