Curtis Dale Hayden’s sentence delayed in Maroochydore District Court

A man who pleaded guilty to killing a grandfather in a crash in 2020 had his sentence delayed after the court was closed to the public.

Curtis Dale Hayden, 43, pleaded guilty in Kingaroy District Court on Monday to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing the death of Ronald Barry Wise, 76, in 2020.

A man who was scheduled to be sentenced after he previously pleaded guilty to killing another person in a crash had his matter mysteriously moved.

Curtis Dale Hayden emerged in Maroochydore District Court on May 6, and frantically summoned his defence barrister Robert Carroll upon seeing media presence in the public gallery.

Shortly after, Mr Carroll brought forth an application to close the court, which went unopposed by the Crown prosecutor and Judge Glen Cash.

Mr Carroll had stated the application related to “the matter that was heard last week”.

After the court was closed, information provided by a Maroochydore registrar stated the sentence did not proceed and was instead transferred to Brisbane District Court.

Hayden pleaded guilty in Kingaroy District Court in February this year to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing the death of Ronald Barry Wise, 76, in 2020.

The court heard that about 4.40pm on December 18, 2020, Mr Wise was driving on Kingaroy Barkers Creek Road when Mr Hayden drove through the intersection at Redmans Road and collided with his car.

The vehicle crashed into a tree, and Mr Wise was pronounced dead at the scene.

Originally published as Curtis Dale Hayden’s sentence delayed in Maroochydore District Court