Payne Haas’ mother Joan Taufua to be referred to mental health court over triple fatal crash
A woman who lost her mother and sister in a fatal car crash allegedly caused by the mother of Payne Haas says she’s a shadow of her former self after a court decision.
A woman who lost her mother and sister in a fatal car crash allegedly caused by the mother of Brisbane Broncos star Payne Haas says she’s a shadow of her former self after the case was referred to the mental health court.
Susan Zimmer, her daughter Steffi and Ms Zimmer’s ex-partner Chris Fawcett were killed in when their car collided with a vehicle driven by Uiatu “Joan” Taufua in 2022.
Ms Zimmer’s daughter Claudine Snow said the decision to move the case to the mental health court had broken her.
“This has been the most isolating experience of my life… I am now just a shadow of my former self,” Ms Snow said.
“I’m not sure if I will ever have the opportunity to read out my victim impact statement.
“I don’t know what to think anymore.”
After almost three years of adjournments – which had left a number of magistrates and judges increasingly frustrated - Taufua appeared at Brisbane’s Supreme Court on Thursday where the case transferred to the mental health system.
Her defence team, headed by barrister Martin Longhurst, had requested multiple adjournments since 2022 as they attempted to secure psychiatric evaluations of Taufua’s mental state at the time of the crash.
Mr Longhurt told Supreme Court Justice Elizabeth Wilson that his office had received a long-awaited psych report on Wednesday suggesting there were potential grounds for the case to proceed via a defence under Section 27 of the Queensland Criminal Code - otherwise known as an insanity defence.
After talks between defence lawyers and prosecutors, the criminal action was placed on hold pending the outcome of proceedings in the Mental Health Court.
Crown prosecutor Dejana Kovac said it was “extraordinary” for a mental health application to be lodged after such a length of time and the case had already taken a heavy toll on the welfare of the families of the victims.
“Other than that there is nothing else I can say,” she said.
“Of course an arraignment cannot take place today.”
During a court appearance last month, Mr Longhurst told Justice Lincoln Crowley that Taufua had been “displaying very aberrant behaviour” in the time leading up to the crash as she mourned the loss of her disabled son Chase.
Justice Crowley agreed to allow the defence more time to obtain relevant data but said the case “can’t keep dragging on like this”.
“There has already been unacceptable delays to date,” he said.
Taufua was present in court, wearing designer sunglasses and a long floral dress.
She was not required to speak during the brief appearance.
Police allege Taufua fled from a police patrol car at Bonogin on December 30, 2022, before ploughing into an oncoming vehicle just minutes later, killing three people.
Taufua, the sole survivor, was charged with three counts of manslaughter.
Ms Snow, who has campaigned strongly to force the introduction of “Susan’s Law”, a raft of legal changes increasing penalties for drivers who flee from police, said the mental health court decision came just a day before what would have been her mother’s 73rd birthday.
“How am I meant to explain this to my children?” she asked.
“It takes a huge toll on victims and their families.
“It would have been my mother’s birthday tomorrow (and) birthdays were a huge deal to our tight-knit family.
“I show up each day for my children. They are innocent victims in all of this.”
The case was adjourned until February.
Originally published as Payne Haas’ mother Joan Taufua to be referred to mental health court over triple fatal crash
