Youth pleads guilty to hit-and-run that killed disability support worker Shane Powell in Alice Springs

A 20-year-old man and a youth who drove a stolen vehicle through a red light and fatally struck a disability support worker have pleaded guilty on all charges.

Shane Powell on his much-loved motorbike. Picture: Supplied.

A 20-year-old man and a youth who engaged in “Grand Theft Auto in real life”, when they drove a stolen vehicle through a red light and fatally struck disability support worker Shane Powell, have pleaded guilty on all charges.

Jacob Long, 20, and a 16-year-old male, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared on Friday morning at the NT Supreme Court over a hit-and-run in Alice Springs last year.

Long and four others – three of whom were under the age of 17 at the time – collided with Powell while he was riding his motorbike home from work on the night of October 15, 2020.

The youth, who was 15 years old at the time of the crash, pleaded guilty to being behind the wheel when Powell was knocked several metres off his bike and not stopping to provide assistance.

Shane Powell was fatally struck in a hit-and-run while riding his motorbike home from work. Picture: Supplied.

He also pleaded guilty to unlawful use of a vehicle causing injury to a person and driving a vehicle causing harm or death.

Long pleaded guilty to driving a vehicle in a dangerous manner while being pursued by police, recklessly endangering serious harm, and unlawful use of a motor vehicle causing injury to a person.

Around 10pm on October 15 police observed five young males driving around in a Subaru Forester that matched the description of a vehicle reported stolen the previous day.

The court heard the offenders – none of whom had drivers licences – entered the intersection of Stott Tce and Telegraph Tce on a red light around 10.05pm, at the same time as Powell entered from the adjacent intersection.

Police claim the Subaru attempted to slow down, but the collision was ultimately unavoidable. The offenders did not stop.

Powell – who was wearing a helmet and travelling within the speed limit – sustained life threatening injuries and was flown to the Royal Adelaide Hospital in a critical condition.

He died a week later at the age of 47 after a difficult decision was made to switch off his life support.

Minutes later, Long was seen speeding around the CBD in the vehicle with his co-offenders and driving along the wrong side of the road and at one point mounted the kerb.

The driver continued after police began a pursuit, and the vehicle was eventually stopped some time after midnight when tyre spikes were deployed.

Three of the occupants were arrested while two others escaped on foot. The pair were later arrested.

In her victim impact statement, Shane’s mother Raelene Powell described her son as her “best friend” who helped her out in her time of need.

“Packing up and going through his room has been very hard, this house is very empty without him,” she said.

Raelene Powell said the hurt of losing her son would not go away any time soon. Picture: Lee Robinson.

“His sister who lives here is still trying to work hard but is angry about how her brother was taken. His brother still waits for Shane’s phone calls.

“At the moment, I cannot see this hurt going away any time soon. For his mother, brother and sister, life will never be the same.”

Following her emotional statement, Long rose from his seat in the docks and told the family “I’m sorry”.

The youth’s lawyer, John McBride, said his client would have to live with the consequences of taking away someone’s life and engaging in “Grand Theft Auto in real life, played out in the streets of Alice Springs – not on the PlayStation console”.

“It was a tragedy that was avoidable, had the system worked,” he said.

“Had there been a viable alternative for this high-risk youth … this dreadful loss of life may well have been avoided.

Mr McBride said the youth would “become mature beyond his years” as he comes to terms with the reality that he took a man’s life, at which point Justice Judith Kelly interrupted to remind him that the youth “didn’t stop”.

Long’s lawyer told the court her client’s conduct on the night in question “was indicative of someone who had little insight into the consequences of what he was involved in”.

The case was adjourned until 2pm on December 1, at which time Long and his co-offender will be sentenced.