Territory coroner lambasts ‘substandard’ police investigation into road crash which killed teenager Xavier Lengyel

NT Police want changes to the Territory’s road laws to make it easier to prosecute killer drivers following a coronial inquest

An inquest into the death of 16-year-old Xavier Lengyel, pictured, has called into question police investigations into road accident deaths

NT Police want changes to the Territory’s road laws to make it easier to prosecute killer drivers.

At an inquest into the death of teenage dirt bike rider Xavier Lengyel, who was killed in March 2018, the barrister acting on behalf of NT Police, Helena Blundell asked Coroner Greg Cavanagh to recommend “an expanded suite of offences” for police to “more easily lay charges” on negligent drivers.

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Mr Cavanagh labelled the police investigation into Xavier’s death as “substandard”.

Mr Cavanagh said Xavier’s family had cause to feel “aggrieved, upset and shitty” due to the investigation and derided longstanding, systemic deficiencies into traffic accident investigations that he said had marred the force for decades.

“We know over the last 20 years this isn’t the first time for someone to get away … because of poor investigation,” he said.

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“Things have fallen through the cracks.

“Hopefully this inquest will result … in a complete review to try and get it right.”

Mr Cavanagh said he was “of the belief a crime (had) been committed” in the collision.