Caleb Jakobsson pleads guilty to culpable driving death of Andrea Lehane
A YOUTH who ran down a mother-of-two outside a suburban shopping centre has pleaded guilty over her death.
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A YOUTH who ran down a mother-of-two outside a suburban shopping centre has pleaded guilty over her death.
Caleb Jakobsson, 20, left Andrea Lehane to die after hitting her with his monkey bike at Carrum Downs on September 23, 2015.
Today Jakobsson pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death and failing to stop at the scene.
Jakobsson, wearing a grey Nike tracksuit, appeared before a County Court judge and said “love youse” to family members as he was led from the dock in handcuffs.
He will next face court on May 17 for a plea hearing.
He was granted bail after the death on strict conditions which he allegedly breached, by breaking curfew, drinking alcohol and being filmed during another breach that has been suppressed.
Last week he was denied bail after again allegedly breaching his bail.
According to a prosecution summary released by a magistrate last year, Jakobsson and four other riders gathered at the Pines Flora and Fauna reserve in Carrum Downs, where they were seen driving erratically.
CCTV footage captured from the McDonald’s on the northeastern corner of the shopping centre also shows four of the bikes travelling fast in a westerly direction outside the Kmart auto service centre before the collision.
The vision shows one of the teenagers performing a wheelie while overtaking a car stopping at the pedestrian crossing, narrowly missing Mrs Lehane.
Jakobsson, who is seen carrying a pillion passenger, overtakes the same car before hitting Mrs Lehane.
“The force of the impact has thrown the deceased onto the road, as indicated by a large pool of blood, leaving her with life-threatening injuries,” the summary reads.
“The small motorcycle ridden by the accused crashed to the ground, spilling off both the accused and (his passenger).”
Two more riders took evasive action to avoid Mrs Lehane lying on the ground.
Jakobsson then remounted his motorbike and fled, with his passenger chasing him on foot.
Jakobsson said during a September 25 police interview that he should’ve stopped following the deadly collision.
“I didn’t know what to do. I panicked after I done it (sic),” he said.
Jakobsson told police he saw the car sitting in front of him, went to its left and didn’t see Mrs Lehane crossing the road.
“By the time I got to the lady I didn’t even know how fast I was going.
“I struck a lady with my motorbike by accident,” he allegedly said.
“I should have stopped.”
Jakobsson had been bailed but was back in custody last week charged with breaching his bail by riding a motorbike, possessing and using ice, and handling stolen goods.