Jordan Kenyon committed to stand trial over fatal Stonehaven crash
An accused killer driver of a 12-year-old girl allegedly had more of a party drug in his system than previously thought, as the man was committed to stand trial.
Geelong
Don't miss out on the headlines from Geelong. Followed categories will be added to My News.
An accused killer driver allegedly had “virtually twice the amount” of a popular party drug in his system as previously estimated, according to the testimony of a medical expert.
Jordan Kenyon, 29, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Friday, for a committal hearing.
Mr Kenyon was allegedly behind the wheel in a horror crash in Stonehaven on January 3 that killed Mia Rossiter, 12 and put her family, and Mr Kenyon’s alleged passenger, in hospital.
Mia’s parents, PJ and Dani Rossiter, were in attendance along with more than a dozen supporters.
Magistrate Simon Guthrie committed the North Shore man to stand trial on the most serious charges.
He formally pleaded not guilty.
Four witnesses gave evidence at the hearing, including two drivers who were not involved in the collision, the police informant and forensic physician Dr Jason Schreiber.
Dr Schreiber made an amendment to his earlier statement before testifying.
The doctor said he initially calculated that Mr Kenyon had 0.48mg of GHB in his blood per litre – but this was an error, he said, and the amount should be at least 0.73.9mg.
The court heard Mr Kenyon, who has an acquired brain injury, had 0.14mg of GHB per litre of blood when a sample was taken.
The party drug has a short half-life so the level would have been higher at the time of the crash, the court heard.
Dr Schreiber said his calculations had been made on the assumption that the GHB was ingested prior to the collision, but Mr Kenyon’s lawyer, barrister Luke Barker, suggested it wasn’t clear when the substance was taken.
“Is that theory blown out of the water … if the GHB is taken after the collision?” Mr Barker asked.
The court heard that GHB was the only substance detected in Mr Kenyon’s system, other than ondansetron – an anti-nausea medication – administered by paramedics.
Mr Barker grilled Dr Schreiber on other aspects of his statement, including how he formed opinions on Mr Kenyon’s driving being “risky” and that Mr Kenyon had been in a “heightened” state in hospital.
Dr Schreiber said witness testimony and Barwon Health hospital notes had guided his opinions on those aspects.
A driver testified that the white Holden Commodore allegedly driven by Mr Kenyon almost crashed into her car before the crash.
The court heard the woman saw the Holden drive off the road onto grass, before overcorrecting with the nose of the car “pointing into the middle of the road”.
The woman told the court she heard “skidding” and saw smoke from the tires on the road in her rearview mirror before hearing the crash.
Another driver, who was allegedly overtaken by the same car prior to the crash, said she saw the vehicle straddle the road’s centre-line three times before the collision.
She estimated it was travelling at 140km/h, the court heard.
Mr Kenyon will face a directions hearing in the County Court next month.
More Coverage
Originally published as Jordan Kenyon committed to stand trial over fatal Stonehaven crash
Motorcyclist fighting for life after Norlane collision
A motorcyclist has been hosptialised and is fighting for life after a collision in Norlane on Sunday night.
‘Frustrating’: Torquay man forced into retirement by work injury
A Torquay man would still be working if it wasn’t for an injury he sustained on the job, as more than 1300 WorkSafe claims were made in the Geelong area last financial year.