Brother of killer Mildura driver Thomas Towle charged with hitting pedestrian

The brother of a notorious Mildura killer driver begged to be let free as a magistrate denied his bail over a crash where a pedestrian lost his leg.

Darren Towle in 2008.

The younger brother of a notorious killer driver who killed six teenagers was allegedly under the influence of drugs and alcohol when he mowed down a pedestrian last year, a court has heard.

Darren George Towle, 46, was denied bail for the second time in Mildura Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday as he begged the magistrate to be let out and told his mum he was “so sorry”.

Mr Towle was arrested in November after he allegedly veered off the road and crashed into 72-year-old Greg Labour, on Walnut Ave, near Plantation St, about 8.45am.

The victim was a delivery driver who was getting newspapers from the back of his parked ute when Mr Towle allegedly smashed into him with his red Holden Commodore sedan, pinning him between the two vehicles.

He suffered serious injuries and was rushed to hospital, where one of his legs had to be amputated.

On Wednesday magistrate Michael Coghlan refused Mr Towle’s application saying he posed a risk to the community.

Darren Towle and his mother, Jillian Wilson.

He also said the “prosecution’s case against him [Mr Towle] was particularly strong”.  

Mr Towle’s lawyer Jennaye Dodd said if he remained in prison it would put him at risk of contracting Covid-19 but the bail application was denied.

Mr Towle begged to be let out to be with his mother who he cooks and cleans for.

“I just want to get out and start looking after mum,” he said.

“I’m sorry mum, I’m so sorry, I love you.”

Mr Towle is charged with dangerous driving causing serious injury and committing an indictable offence on bail.

He will return to court on Friday.

The Mildura community was left reeling in February 2006 by a horror collision in which six teenagers were killed when Mr Towle’s older brother, Thomas Towle, with his son on his lap, sped through the group of teens as they left a 16th birthday party on the outskirts of Mildura.

Family and friends of the victims were left outraged when he was sentenced to 10 years jail for dangerous driving causing the deaths of Shane Hirst, 16, his sister Abby, 17, Stevie-Lee Weight, 15, Cassandra Manners, 16, Cory Dowling, 16, and Josephine Calvi, 16.

Four others were seriously injured.