Territory Families worker Peter O’Shea refused further drug test in wake of a fatal crash that killed a 36-year-old man
A Darwin youth justice officer who tested positive for meth after a fatal crash refused to comply with a police major crash investigation, telling cops ‘I’m not giving you blood mate’.
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A Darwin Youth Justice officer who killed a man with his car before being assaulted by his loved ones, refused to comply with a Police Major Crash investigation.
Peter Stuart O’Shea appeared in Darwin Local Court on Wednesday to plead guilty to a single count of failing to provide a sample of blood in the wake of a fatal crash.
It comes a year after a 36-year-old man passed away on the street after being hit with O’Shea’s car on Tiger Brennan Dr, Berrimah at 8pm on February 27.
The court heard the Territory Families team leader was driving on the 100km/h stretch when a group suddenly appeared on the road.
Judge Alan Woodcock heard that a group was fighting in the street, with the 36-year-old tragically ending up in O’Shea’s path.
Despite slamming on the brakes his car slammed into the younger man, and he passed away shortly after emergency services arrived.
The court heard a family member of the deceased man assaulted O’Shea as he waited for cops to arrive.
When police arrived at the chaotic scene they tested the driver for alcohol and drugs, with one of the tests pinging positive for methamphetamines.
The youth justice officer told police it had been a week since he last used drugs, and suggested the positive test was due to his antidepressant medications.
“He said he did not use methamphetamines, but worked with people that did,” the prosecutor said.
When police asked for him to go to the Royal Darwin Hospital for further testing, O’Shea said: “I’m not giving you blood mate — there’s no way”.
At the hospital O’Shea continued to refuse to provide blood for testing, and two hours after his arrest he was warned he would be charged if he did not allow the nurse to take a sample.
As a result he said it could not be proven either way if O’Shea had drugs in his system at the time of the fatal crash.
There was no suggestion that O’Shea’s driving itself caused the man’s death, however the prosecutor said it suggested a possible wider problem with drug use.
Mr Woodcock heard that the long-serving youth worker had a one-page criminal history, including a non-conviction for driving with a prohibited drug in his body in 2021, and drink driving in 1996.
His defence lawyer said the 51-year-old was currently working in education and training as a NDIS support co-ordinator and youth worker, but was considering leaving the Territory to return to family in Western Australia.
Mr Woodcock convicted and fined O’Shea $750, with a $150 victims levy, and suspended his licence for 18 months.
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Originally published as Territory Families worker Peter O’Shea refused further drug test in wake of a fatal crash that killed a 36-year-old man
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