Jesse Reynolds pleads not guilty to Marshall hit-run, set to face County Court

An allegedly disqualified driver accused of fleeing the scene of a horror hit-run and leaving a woman for dead will fight the charges in the County Court.

The scene of the accident on Barwarre Rd, Marshall. Picture: Brad Fleet

An allegedly disqualified driver accused of leaving a woman for dead following a horror crash on Barwarre Rd last year will fight the allegations at trial.

Jesse Reynolds, 24, appeared in the Geelong Magistrates Court on Tuesday via videolink from the Metropolitan Remand Centre for a brief hearing.

Mr Reynolds faces 23 charges, including dangerous driving causing serious injury, reckless conduct endangering death, reckless conduct endangering serious injury and three counts each of recklessly causing serious injury and recklessly causing injury.

Jesse Reynolds.

Charge sheets released to the Geelong Advertiser reveal he is also charged with three counts of negligently causing serious injury and single counts of driving at a dangerous speed, dangerous driving, careless driving, dishonestly retaining stolen goods (number plates), possessing a controlled weapon, possessing cannabis, using a fake identifying number, speeding and driving while disqualified.

Mr Reynolds pleaded not guilty to all charges and magistrate Kimberley Swadesir formally committed the Whittington man to face the County Court during Tuesday’s brief hearing.

The charges all stem from a crash on Barwarre Rd on July 17 last year.

Mr Reynolds was allegedly behind the wheel of a red Holden Commodore when it collided with a silver Mazda hatchback.

The driver of the Mazda, a 42-year-old mother and schoolteacher from Armstrong Creek, was flown to hospital in a critical condition while Mr Reynolds allegedly fled the scene, sparking a manhunt.

Charges of failing to render assistance and failing to provide his name and address, both following motor accident “whereby a person was seriously injured”, are among those the 24-year-old pleaded not guilty to.

Two other people, alleged to be passengers in the Holden, were also injured in the crash.

The court heard the matter was initially listed for a committal hearing where the evidence against him would be tested.

However, when the matter was called, prosecutor Jordan McCarthy, representing the Office of Public Prosecutions, told the court the matter would now proceed by way of a straight hand-up brief with no witnesses sought to be cross-examined.

Mr Reynolds lawyer, barrister Natasha Freijah, confirmed that her client understood all 23 charges and wanted to plead not guilty.

Before reading Mr Reynolds a committal caution, Ms Swadesir asked if an alibi caution was needed.

“Not in this case,” Mr McCarthy said.

Mr McCarthy formally tendered the brief and identified several of the charges as being summary offences.

These charges were also transferred to the County Court.

Mr Reynolds will face the County Court for a directions hearing in July.

Originally published as Jesse Reynolds pleads not guilty to Marshall hit-run, set to face County Court