John Murray Van Remmen: Burwood man pleads guilty to fatal Malmsbury crash

A Burwood man who caused a Kyneton’s woman’s death has had his charges downgraded.

A Melbourne man has pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of a 74-year-old Kyneton woman.

John Murray Van Remmen appeared via a video link at Bendigo Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday, March 31, and pleaded guilty to driving in a dangerous manner causing death.

The Burwood man was charged in relation to a fatal two-vehicle crash on Mollison St, Malmsbury on September 5, 2020.

A 74-year-old Kyneton woman driving the second car, was taken to hospital but later died.

Van Remmen previously faced charges of culpable driving causing death — a charge which could carry a maximum sentence of 20 years jail.

Police prosecutors agreed to downgrade the charges to dangerous driving causing death, which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years.

Van Remmen pleaded guilty and will appear in Melbourne’s County Court on September 13 for a final sentence.

His lawyer Sam Norton argued for his client’s bail conditions to be amended to allow him to leave Victoria, specifically to attend a conference in Queensland.

Mr Norton said Van Remmen’s passport had been surrendered so there was no threat of him leaving the country.

The bail amendment was approved by Magistrate Patrick Southey, with the requirement Van Remmen report to police before travelling across state borders.