Mildura killer driver Thomas Towle caught driving unlicenced for 12th time: Court

The man responsible for killing six teens nearly two decades ago near Mildura attempted to switch seats with his passenger after being caught driving without a licence for a 12th time.

The man responsible for the hit-run deaths of six teens in Mildura nearly 20 years ago has been caught driving unlicensed for a 12th time, attempting to switch seats with a passenger before being caught by police.

Thomas Towle, 60, fronted Bendigo Magistrates’ Court on driving charges after being pulled over while driving unlicensed on September 28.

A roadside drug test found methamphetamine in his system.

The court heard Towle tried to swap seats with a passenger in his Holden Commodore before police approached, but officers saw through the ruse.

When questioned, Towle admitted he was unlicensed and had taken meth two days prior. He told police he had been driving to his mother’s birthday party.

It was revealed in court this was Towle’s 12th time fronting court on a charge of either driving unlicensed or driving disqualified.

Towle initially opted to have his case heard in Koori Court, but changed his mind at the last minute in farcical scenes. Picture: Facebook

Towle initially opted to have his case heard in Koori Court, but changed his mind at the last minute.

Moments after telling Magistrate Megan Aumair he grew up in a “mostly white” environment and wanted to “give Koori Court a go,” he turned to his lawyer and muttered, “I can’t do this,” before abruptly leaving the courtroom.

When he returned, the matter proceeded as a straight guilty plea.

Towle was sentenced to 10 years in prison after he ploughed through a group of teenagers at Cardross just outside Mildura on Saturday, February 18, 2006.

Shane Hirst, 16, his sister Abby, 17, Stevie-Lee Weight, 15, Cassandra Manners, 16, Cory Dowling, 16, and Josephine Calvi, 16 were killed and four others were seriously injured.

Police prosecutor David Somerton argued Towle’s repeated disregard for the law warranted jail time.

Six teenagers were killed when Towle ploughed into them in 2006.

“He has learnt nothing in the past 17 years,” Mr Somerton told the court.

Towle’s Legal Aid lawyer acknowledged his lengthy criminal history but said he had recently “turned a corner” and was committed to addressing his drug issues.

She told the court he had attended two drug treatment sessions at Bendigo Health and urged against a prison sentence.

Ultimately, Magistrate Megan Aumair looked favourably on Towle’s attempt to clean up his act and gave him a proposition at sentencing.

“Show me you are fair dinkum. If you do that, I will give you a community corrections order. If you do not, you will go to prison,” Ms Aumair said.

Towle’s licence was suspended for 18 months on the drug driving charge.

He will return to court on April 29 for sentencing on the driving while disqualified charge.