Probe into Ravenshoe driver’s mindset
THE driver at the centre of the deadly Ravenshoe cafe explosion has had his court case adjourned pending an investigation into his mental health.
THE driver at the centre of the deadly Ravenshoe cafe explosion has had his court case adjourned pending an investigation into his mental health. Brian Scutt was behind the wheel of the ute that smashed into the Serves You Right cafe in the far north Queensland town in June 2015.
The impact ignited two large gas bottles, causing a massive fireball that killed cafe manager and mother-of-two Nicole Nyholt, 37, and 83-year-old grandmother Margaret Clarke.
Scutt was charged in November following a protracted investigation with several offences including dangerous operation of a motor vehicle causing death. The 61-year-old did not attend his first appearance in Cairns Magistrates Court on Monday and had his case adjourned to the mental health call-over on March 22. Outside court, solicitor Rowan Silva said Scutt would initially undergo a psychiatric assessment.
“The charges against (him) arose out of an incident that was enormous tragedy for everyone concerned,” Mr Silva said.
“Obviously he personally suffered an enormous amount as a result of the incident.”
Son James Scutt, who has stood by his father since the blast, attended court but declined to comment to reporters.
Scutt spent several weeks in a coma after breaking his back and sustaining burns in the explosion, which also injured another 17 people.
