Accused killer driver faces court over fatal Longwarry crash
A LEARNER driver who allegedly killed a teenage girl in Gippsland is free on bail, days after the girl’s heartbroken family remembered what would have been her 16th birthday.
Law & Order
Don't miss out on the headlines from Law & Order. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A LEARNER driver who allegedly killed a teenage schoolgirl in a Gippsland crash is free on bail — but is forbidden from driving.
Joshua Michael Lewis, 18, faced Melbourne Magistrates Court on Friday charged with dangerous driving causing the death of 15-year-old Georgia Rose Larsen.
It was his first court appearance after Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives laid the charge on Tuesday.
MORE LAW AND ORDER: WOMAN PISTOL WHIPPED IN HORROR NARRE WARREN CARJACKING
TOBY MITCHELL JOIN FORCES WITH POLICE TO OPPOSE RELEASE OF FILE
Other charges he faces include careless driving, as well as being a learner driver and not having an experienced driver sitting beside him, failing to display L-plates, and falsely displaying P-plates.
The brief court hearing came five months after police allege he veered off the road and struck a tree on Evans Rd, Longwarry on February 21.
Georgia, a Garfield schoolgirl who was a passenger in the car, was taken to hospital but died.
No details of the circumstances of that day or what allegedly caused the crash were aired in the brief court hearing.
Instead, Mr Lewis, from Longwarry, applied to have his bail conditions altered so that he could report to Warragul police station instead of Drouin, as it was not a 24-hour station.
Other bail conditions he must abide by include not driving or not contacting witnesses.
He was also made to surrender his passport and cannot attend international departure points.
His case was adjourned until September 25.
Outside court, he would not comment about his case or apologise for his alleged actions.
The long-awaited court appearance was welcomed by Georgia’s heartbroken family.
Her father Shannon, in an online post informing friends and family Mr Lewis had been charged on Tuesday, he wrote: “Today is 153 days since I, my family and all Georgie’s true friends lost her beautiful, caring soul. Finally the process of getting some justice for Georgia’s needless death is under way.”
It comes as the family celebrated what would have been her 16th birthday on Wednesday.
They are also preparing to take part in Run Melbourne on Sunday to honour Georgia and raise awareness about organ donation.
Georgia’s organs were donated — something her family say she wanted.
An online fundraising page has been set up, with all funds being donated to Donate Life Victoria.