Ex-Geelong Cat Ray Card fronts court over fatal Ring Road crash

An offer has been made in the case of an former Geelong footballer charged with killing his partner in a crash, a court has heard, as negotiations between the prosecution and defence continue.

Former Geelong player Ray Card.

An offer is being considered in the case of a former Geelong Cat charged over the crash that killed his long-term partner.

Raymond Donald Card, 68, appeared virtually in Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday for a committal mention.

The Grovedale man was charged in November last year over the crash that left his long-term partner, 57-year-old Mandy McDonald, dead.

Mr Card and Ms McDonald were travelling in a Ford Ranger when it collided with a BMW carrying a 23-year-old Lara man and a 19-year-old Lovely Banks woman on the Geelong Ring Road at Lara on November 16.

Mr Card spent time at the Royal Melbourne Hospital under police guard following the collision and was charged three days later with culpable driving causing death and dangerous driving causing death.

At a previous mention hearing, the prosecution was given until February 25 to hand over the brief of evidence in the matter to the defence.

Ray Card in 1983, the year he won the Carji Greeves Medal. Picture: BOB GARTLAND COLLECTION

At that time, police were still awaiting the results of blood analysis and toxicology reports, a medical examiner’s report, as well as a mechanical examination of the car and collision reconstruction report.

On Tuesday, Mr Card’s lawyer, Tony Hargreaves, told the court negotiations between the prosecution and the defence were ongoing and requested an adjournment.

Mr Hargreaves said an offer had been made, it had been considered and discussions had continued.

No further details of the offer or what it entailed were aired in open court.

Mr Card played 110 games for the Cats between 1977 and 1987 and took home the Cats’ best and fairest award, the Carji Greeves Medal, in 1983.

Following his playing career, Mr Card continued his involvement with the Cats, becoming president of the club’s Past Players and Officials Association.

At Tuesday’s hearing, a prosecutor representing the Office of Public Prosecutions made an application to change the matter’s police informant.

In criminal cases, the informant is the police officer who charged an accused, and whose name a matter may be listed under.

The court heard the current police informant is detective sergeant Darren Williams, while the new informant is detective leading senior constable Ian Whitehall.

Mr Card will reappear in court on May 20 for a further committal mention and his bail was extended.

Originally published as Ex-Geelong Cat Ray Card fronts court over fatal Ring Road crash