Walter Evan McBryde’s hit-and-run trial delayed

New pub CCTV details have been revealed as a legal battle brews in the case against a South Burnett driver accused of running down a young Sunshine Coast dad (pictured) and fleeing the scene.

Driver Walter McBryde was due to stand trial in May for allegedly killing Sunshine Coast man Bryce Williams (pictured) with his car.

Just how drunk a driver allegedly was before he hit and killed a jogger is crucial to how his trial proceeds, Kingaroy District Court has heard.

It comes as the trial of Brooklands man Walter Evan McBryde, accused of striking Sunshine Coast dad Bryce Williams with his car and killing him, was delayed amid questions over key blood alcohol level results.

Mr McBryde, 53, is charged with one count of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance and leaving the scene without obtaining help.

He was due to stand trial over the alleged September 5, 2022 hit and run next Monday.

However, Mr McBryde’s lawyer, Mark Werner, requested an adjournment and told the court his legal team was awaiting clarification on a toxicology report.

Mr Williams, pictured with his wife and two children, was reportedly in the South Burnett for work and jogging along Nanango Brooklands Road at about 6.30pm in the evening. Photo: Supplied

When questioned on the purpose of this report by Judge Carl Heaton, Mr Werner said the original results were “not specific enough” and “too theoretical”.

“We’ve asked for a figure, and we’ve got a range,” Mr Werner said.

“And if it was above the high alcohol range, then the dangerousness would seem to be proved … if it’s below, that’s arguable and that’s the point.”

Crown prosecutor Toby Corsbie said the toxicology results were “fairly central” to the case, as the issues that would likely arise in the trial would be around whether lighting conditions were poor enough that anyone would have hit Mr Williams or if Mr McBryde was impaired to the degree that he did not notice the pedestrian.

Mr Corsbie said as well as the breath test taken several hours after the incident, there was also CCTV footage of Mr McBryde drinking at the pub that day, which allegedly showed him consuming around “15 schooners”.

However, the court heard the results were complicated to determine because there was further alcohol consumed after the alleged collision, as well as other substances found in the defendant’s system.

The accident occurred on Nanango Brooklands Road, near Kingaroy. Photo credit: Google Maps

Mr Williams, 33, was reportedly in the South Burnett for work and jogging along Nanango Brooklands Road at about 6.30pm.

Police allege he was hit by a car which left the scene, and he was later found by members of the public.

Mr Williams left behind his wife, a 10-month-old boy and a three-year-old girl.

Mr McBryde’s case is due back in Kingaroy District Court on Friday, May 23, for an update on the status of the new report.

No pleas have been entered in the case and Mr McBryde is currently on bail.

Due to the number of experts and witnesses who are expected to be called, the trial is expected to run for at least four days and will likely be moved to the September District Court sittings at Kingaroy.

Originally published as Walter Evan McBryde’s hit-and-run trial delayed