Martin Stait death: Adam Ohlmeyer faces sentencing over 2021 road death at Ulmarra

Tears flowed in a NSW court as the family of a motorist who tragically died after he was hit by fencing falling from a heavy vehicle recounted their agony over his death.

Martin ‘Marty’ Stait tragically died after a motor vehicle collision on Big River Way, Swan Creek NSW on Friday, August 6 2021.

A female truck driver whose brother tragically died after fencing fell from a heavy vehicle slammed one man on board for not ensuring it was safe for other road users.

Martin “Marty” Stait’s family read impact statements directly to Adam Ohlmeyer, a passenger and the alternate driver in the heavy haulage vehicle carrying the 50m of fencing that fell off and hit Mr Stait’s vehicle at Ulmarra, near Grafton on August 6 in 2021.

Ohlmeyer wept in the docks alongside Mr Stait’s family and some of the legal representatives during the harrowing sentencing hearing at Grafton District Court on Tuesday.

The 48-year-old earlier pleaded guilty to manslaughter but faces other charges including two counts of being an accessory before the fact to an offence and a serious indictable offence of dangerous driving occasioning death, and drive unsafely loaded vehicle and death/injury occur.

Heavy vehicle driver and younger sister Jennifer Stait told the court of the failure of the heavy vehicle to stop and assist her older brother.

Family of Martin Stait gather outside Grafton court on July 8. Left to right: father Glenn Stait, sister Jennifer Stait, wife Ni Komang Muliastuti, brother Troy Stait, mother Robyn Cartwright and stepfather Neville McMaster.

“Nobody had stopped, nobody had come back,” she said.

“As a heavy vehicle operator myself, I ensure my vehicle is safe for me and other road users and you could have done the same,” she said to Ohlmeyer.

Adam Ohlmeyer leaves Coffs Harbour court on Monday May 19.

Ms Stait told the court of the last time she saw her brother at Gold Coast University Hospital.

“I rested my head on his chest and listened to his heartbeat for the last time in his body,” she said.

Ms Stait said since then she has often asked herself: “Why? Why us? Why you?” of the accident which claimed the life of her brother.

As the victim impact statements were read from wife Ni Komang Muliastuti, father Glenn Stait, sister Jennifer Stait and others, the offender was given tissues by his solicitor.

Marty Stait was a family man who loved fossicking and fishing before he tragically died from injuries sustained in a motor vehicle collision on Big River Way, Swan Creek NSW on Friday, August 6 2021.

At one point Ohlmeyer held the gaze of Martin Stait’s brother Troy Stait for a lengthy period of time after he had read his mother’s, stepfather’s and his own statement.

Ohlmeyer’s defence solicitor submitted documents to the court including a letter from the offender, a psychiatrist report and three character references.

Judge Bennett accepted the bundle but queried the existence of details for the defence’s suggestion that Ohlmeyer suffered from a condition at the time of the offence.

Father and brother of Martin Stait, Glenn Stait and Troy Stait, outside Grafton court on July 8 2025.

Judge Bennett set a final sentencing date of July 18 to be heard at Grafton.

Ohlmeyer was one of four co-accused charged with offences following the death.

William Strong, Blake Burgess and Gregory Burgess will defend charges against them at a trial in April next year.

Strong is charged with dangerous driving causing death while driving in a dangerous manner and driving an unsafely loaded vehicle causing death.

Both Blake and Gregory Burgess are charged with four counts of failing to ensure safety of transport activities, manslaughter, and directing an unsafely loaded vehicle causing death.

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Originally published as Martin Stait death: Adam Ohlmeyer faces sentencing over 2021 road death at Ulmarra