By Cameron Houston and Carla Jaeger
A Melbourne driver accused of killing a 24-year-old model when he crashed his car into pedestrians while drunk and high has been granted bail.
Elise Hodder, of Clifton Hill, died after she became trapped under Connor Mathiasson’s car while he was allegedly attempting to leave an illegal rave in the south-east suburb of Kooyong in the early hours of Sunday.
Mathiasson, 23, is facing five charges, including dangerous driving causing death, driving while unlicensed and dangerous driving causing serious injury.
Magistrate Donna Bakos found on Tuesday that Mathiasson did not pose an unacceptable risk to the community, but imposed strict bail conditions including regular reporting to police, a travel ban, an evening curfew and that he does not drive or use drugs.
Elise Hodder died after a man allegedly reversed into her near a rave on the weekend.
His father had agreed to a $100,000 surety and promised to supervise his son, with Mathiasson also agreeing to undertake mental health treatment.
The court heard that Mathiasson “accelerated heavily” while attempting to reverse his Holden Commodore out of the Malvern City Football Club carpark about 1am when he struck three pedestrians.
The impact killed Hodder and seriously injured another woman who was taken to The Alfred hospital suffering numerous injuries, including fractures to her legs and ankles. She remains in a serious but stable condition.
A 25-year-old man was also hit, but not injured.
The court heard that Mathiasson recorded a blood-alcohol reading of 0.178 and tested positive for cannabis.
His lawyer, George Balot, told Nine News: “He reiterates his deepest condolences to the Hodder family.
“I remind the community of the presumption of innocence.”
Connor Mathiasson covers his head as he leaves Melbourne Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday.Credit: Nine News
There were three passengers in Mathiasson’s car at the time of the incident, two of whom have provided statements to the police.
Members of Victoria Police’s public order response team had been responding to noise complaints about the illegal rave in Sir Zelman Cowen Park and were about 100 metres from Hodder when she was struck and killed, the court was told.
The court heard Mathiasson had developed a cannabis addiction as a result of his mother’s death when he was a teenager, and was self-medicating for “significant and unresolved” mental health issues.
Hodder has been remembered as a “beautiful, caring and supportive woman”.
Mathiasson was ordered to return to the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court in February.
Meanwhile, his alleged victim was remembered as a “beautiful, caring and supportive woman” by her father, Michael Hodder.
“We will cherish every memory and support all your friends as you always did for others. [I’m] torn apart, but your smile and heartbeat will always be with us,” he posted on social media.
Connor Mathiasson, the 23-year-old driver accused of killing Elise Hodder.
Hodder’s modelling agency, FiveTwenty Model Management, said she was “a delight to work with” and was “always showing up with a bubbly, bright attitude”.
“It is with deep sadness to have received this news. Our condolences go out to her family and friends,” the agency said in a statement.
“Her presence and place in our hearts will never be forgotten. Rest in peace beautiful girl.”
Hodder had recently appeared in a dedicated six-page spread in the New York-based fashion publication, Vanguard Magazine.
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