Trevor Caulton jailed for manslaughter of young girl in Mount Isa

A man who killed a 13-year-old girl in a ‘criminal driving rampage’ that included him driving up onto a footpath will be released from prison this year. Here’s what happened.

Mount Isa street after Trevor Caulton drove through a crowd of juveniles. Picture: Supplied

A man received a distressing phone call after a fight broke out amongst juveniles and a boy was told to call ‘Uncle Trevor’ for help, now Trevor Caulton is behind bars for killing a young girl.

The man who was 52 at the time got behind the wheel of a Toyota Hilux Utility and drove at a group of kids who had been throwing rocks, sticks and scooters at a Mount Isa home in August 2022, as outlined in court documents.

Judge John Muir who sentenced the man in Mount Isa Supreme Court last month said a fight broke out between a group of young people that spread to Dent Street where the 13-year-old Cara Bob was present.

When the fight escalated, a young man was told to “get ‘Uncle Trevor’”.

“The young man told you the group had rocks. You were very angry,” Judge Muir said.

He told the court Caulton advised the young man to stay put while he got in the car and drove to the scene.

His Honour said the man drove at 49km/hr along the road before he mounted the dirt footpath in neutral, then drove over a sloped concrete curve on Dent Street and pressed the brake.

The crowd of juveniles ran in all directions to avoid the car with some jumping fences to get out of the way.

“You accelerated and drove the car completely onto the footpath at a speed of between 45 and 47km/hr,” His Honour said.

“… You struck one young man, causing him to spin around and for the cigarette he was holding to fly out of his hand.

“You continued to drive, and it seems around this point you struck the deceased with the car and you braked, decreasing your speed to 25km/hr. The deceased went under the utility as you struck her.”

Mt Isa man Trevor Caulton, drove his car into a crowd of people at 2am on August 6, 2022, at Delacour Drive in the Mount Isa suburb of Pioneer. Picture: Supplied

Caulton drove off back home and the young girl was declared dead at 1:22am following the injuries she sustained from being hit.

“You then later, became aware of what had happened and you handed yourself into the police,” His Honour outlined.

In the interview with police Caulton told them he didn’t stop because the juveniles had weapons and he thought he could have been killed.

“In that interview you say, ‘I knew I hit someone. I didn’t know that I had killed them’,” His Honour said.

“You went on a criminal driving rampage. You had no concern for the safety of others.”

The judge described the victim impact statement submitted by the girl’s mother and said it was a “heart-wrenching read”.

“One thing for sure is that (Cara) will not be forgotten. It is heartbreaking not only for the deceased’s family but for the wider community. Instead of there being unity, your actions have further divided the community and have caused unrest.”

Judge Muir emphasised how significant Caulton’s plea of guilty was in showing his remorse and said it showed he “accepted responsibility” for the girl’s death and acknowledged his dated, limited criminal history and having never spent time in custody before the current offending.

“You have experienced loss and grief yourself with a young son who passed away, and also whilst you were in custody, you were unable to attend your mother’s funeral,” His Honour noted.

“You have always, it seemed, been able to work and have gainful employment, and there is the prospect of further employment once you are released from custody.”

When handing down a sentence, Judge Muir said it was the case that Caulton “failed to use reasonable care to take reasonable precautions to avoid danger to the deceased”.

“Those acts included failing to blow the horn, driving at excessive speed, driving onto the footpath and in close proximity to a car.”

Caulton pleaded guilty to manslaughter.

He was sentenced to nine years’ jail, with a parole eligibility date of October 6 as the 943 days spent in pre-sentence custody was declared as time already served.

Originally published as Trevor Caulton jailed for manslaughter of young girl in Mount Isa