Hit-and-run driver Garth Lance Spain faces court over death of 15-year-old Jack Parker

The man charged over the death of 15-year-old Jack Parker has appeared in court as the boy’s sad final moments and his family’s anguish are revealed. Read their statements.

The drunk and drugged-up driver who killed 15-year-old Jack Parker in a hit-and-run last year has pleaded guilty to causing the teenager’s death, with the harrowing details of the boy’s last moments read aloud in court.

Garth Lance Spain, 33, pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court on Tuesday to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop and give assistance after the crash on August 21, 2021.

About 7pm, Jack was riding his scooter across the crossing at Sanderson Middle School in Wulagi when he was hit by Spain’s Isuzu MU-X.

Spain, who moved to Darwin in 2008, was travelling about 80km/h in a 60km/h zone.

He tested positive to alcohol and cannabis with an estimated blood alcohol level of between 0.08 and 0.10 per cent at the time of the crash.

Garth Lance Spain has pleaded guilty in the Supreme Court to causing death by dangerous driving and failing to stop and give assistance after the crash that killed teenager Jack Parker in 2021. Picture: Jason Walls

Jack was hit by the bullbar on the front passenger side of the car, with the impact twisting a spotlight and knocking two bolts in the bullbar free, before “folding” across the bonnet and leaving a large dent, the court heard.

The impact of the crash, witnessed by three children aged 12, seven and five and several adults, was so great Jack was thrown about 44m.

Witnesses arrived to help after hearing screams.

Spain did not stop after the crash but called police to report the incident and drove to the Casuarina police station.

He declined to be formally interviewed by police, the court heard, but told officers outside the police station: “I just hit someone with my car”.

“I panicked. I panicked, okay, I’m sorry,” he said.

“I swear as soon as it happened I was like ‘Holy s*** ‘I gotta call somebody’ so I drove here … I didn’t know what to do.”

Crown Prosecutor Steve Ledek acknowledged a truck was illegally parked near the crossing and partially obscured Spain’s view of the crossing but said he should have been aware of the risk the truck posed by blocking his view.

Jack Parker was crossing Matthews Rd when he was hit by Garth Lance Spain. Picture: Glenn Campbell

“Like any driver, he would have been aware of the fact that as he approached this crossing he can see the vehicle parked on the side of the road which means his ability to see people who may have been approaching that crossing is impaired,” Justice John Burns said.

Mr Ledek said Jack’s father and aunt couldn’t “bring themselves” to be in court on Tuesday.

“They are still struggling,” he said.

“They wanted to, but can’t bring themselves to be here.”

In a victim impact statement tendered to the court, Jack’s aunt, Lynette Fejo said it would take the teenager’s family a long time to come to terms with his death.

“Garth Spain, you took away a son, brother, nephew, cousin and grandson from his family,” she said.

“He will never get to live a life like his cousins, family and friends in graduating school and working,

“He will never get to have a family.

“He was taken from us too early when he should still be here with us.”

In his victim impact statement tendered to the court, Jack’s father Robert Salisbury-Baker said Jack’s younger brother had been left “zombie like”.

“He is still grieving like the rest of the family,” he said.

The court also heard of Spain’s list of prior driving offences which include driving without due care, not stopping after an accident, driving under the influence of alcohol and driving uninsured, unregistered and unlicensed.

The crossing on Matthews Rd where Jack Parker was killed. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Spain’s defence lawyer Matthew Hubber accepted his client was “driving too fast” but the factors which contributed to the crash were not “extreme examples”.

“He panicked,” Mr Hubber said.

“It’s an abhorrent thing to leave the scene of an accident regardless of the circumstances but this has got to be seen with the lowest or least serious example of this type of offence.”

Justice Burns said it was “fortuitous” that Spain leaving the scene “ultimately made no difference to the outcome of the victim”.

“There will be occasions on which it will make a difference,” he said.

Spain’s bail remained in place until his sentencing on November 10.

Originally published as Hit-and-run driver Garth Lance Spain faces court over death of 15-year-old Jack Parker