Bus driver who caused deadly crash wants conviction overturned

A Tasmanian bus driver who caused a crash that killed a father and his two-year-old daughter in a multi-vehicle crash is hoping to have her conviction overturned.

A TASMANIAN bus driver found guilty of causing a crash that killed a father and his two-year-old daughter is hoping to have her conviction overturned.

Christine Helen Chatterton was found guilty on two counts of causing death by negligent driving and given a criminal conviction earlier this year.

The 70-year-old was behind the wheel of a white 1998 Hino passenger bus when it collided with three other vehicles in Huntingfield in 2020, killing a 42-year-old male driver and his two-year-old daughter.

The Blackmans Bay woman avoided jail time and was sentenced in August to a three month term of imprisonment wholly suspended on the condition she commit no further crimes, and ordered to pay a $90 victims of crime levy.

Chatterton had been found to have “excessively” slammed on the brakes, causing the tires to lock and the bus to skid on the road.

Helen Chatterton leaves the Hobart Magistrates Court after being sentenced for two counts of causing death by negligent driving. Picture: Kenji Sato

But Chatterton’s lawyers have appealed to the Supreme Court of Tasmania to have her conviction overturned, citing a lack of evidence surrounding the degree of force applied to the brakes of the bus.

“What evidence is there to satisfy … beyond reasonable doubt that the brake force was excessive? Not that there was brake force, but that it was excessive,” barrister Tom Cox told the court on Tuesday.

He said while Chatterton braked “reasonably hard” it did not mean she was being negligent.

Crown Counsel Madeleine Wilson SC argued Chatterton, who had 37 years of bus driving experience, would have been able to make an assessment that the amount of brake force she applied was excessive.

Justice Gregory Greason is expected to make a decision on the conviction next year.

Originally published as Bus driver who caused deadly crash wants conviction overturned