Andrea Groening to face court charged over the fatal crash which killed her son

Andrea Groening, accused of killing her son and 21-year-old Wade Williams in May, has fronted court for the first time.

Darwin mother-of-three, Andrea Groening [wearing black dress], has faced Darwin Local Court for the first time charged over the crash which killed her son

A YOUNG mum who is accused of being drunk and on drugs when she ran a red light, causing a crash which killed her son, fronted court for the first time yesterday.

Andrea Groening, 24, of Moulden, appeared briefly at Darwin Local Court yesterday charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death, and one count each of dangerous driving causing serious harm, reckless driving, mid-range drink driving and drug driving.

Groening is accused of running a red light on the corner of Tiger Brennan Dr and Berrimah Rd in May, causing a horror crash in which killed her son, Mehali Anastasios Pastrikos, 7, and passenger Wade Williams, 21.

The driver of another car, 42, was seriously injured.

Groening, self-represented, told the court yesterday she had not spoken with a lawyer despite more than four months passing since the crash.

Judge Michael Carey told her the charges were “quite serious” and that she would need to get a lawyer.

“Go and see a lawyer. You’re going to need one,” he said.

Yesterday’s court appearance ran for less than a minute, was entirely procedural, and saw Groening served in court with a ream-sized bundle of evidence.

The case will ultimately be heard in the Supreme Court and is unlikely to be finally dealt with until next year.

Groening, visibly agitated, was flanked in court by two supporters.

Emotions ran high among the large contingent of Mehali’s family, which attended court yesterday, including his father, Anastasios Pastrikos.

Outside court, Mehali’s grandmother, Natalie Pastrikos, said all the family wanted was “justice for Mehali”.

She said she and her family were still coming to grips with the Mehali’s death.

“We’re devastated,” she said.

She said the Pastrikos family continued to tend to a roadside memorial and made sure his grave always had fresh flowers beside it.

At his funeral in July, Mehali was remembered as a “beautiful cheeky boy” who loved animals and who was his dad’s best friend.

“He was a bright, bubbly, cheeky little boy, he literally walked into every room and lit it up,” a family friend said at the funeral.

Groening will return to court at a later date.

Groening has been charged with driving a motor vehicle, causing harm or death, driving a vehicle recklessly, driving medium range blood alcohol content and driving with a prohibited drug in body.

The mother of three was allegedly driving when her car collided with another at the intersection of Tiger Brennan Dr and Berrimah Rd in May.

At Darwin Local Court this morning, Groening told Judge Michael Carey she had not yet spoken to a lawyer.

Mr Carey said: “Go and see a lawyer. You’re going to need one, these are quite serious charges.”

Groening was flanked in court by two supporters.

Groening’s case will ultimately be transferred to the Supreme Court and is unlikely to be dealt with until next year.