Farm worker bailed over alleged fatal hit and run near Innisfail

A farm worker charged with driving without due care causing death, and failing to remain at the scene of an accident to render assistance has been granted bail with a condition he surrender his Vanuatuan passport.

Queensland Police say a man in his 20s was found dead on the side of Martyville Rd. Picture: Google Maps.

A banana farm worker charged over an alleged fatal hit and run accident south of Innisfail has been granted bail.

Vanuatuan national, Morris Yakula, 27, of Innisfail, was not required to enter a plea when he appeared via video link from Innisfail before Acting Magistrate Raimund Heggie in Cairns.

Defence lawyer Connor Davey applied for bail, saying Yakula arrived in Australia a month ago to take up farm work, and was willing to report twice daily to police, surrender his passport, and continue to work at the banana farm.

Yakula is facing two charges – drive without due care causing death and failing to remain at an incident to render assistance.

The charges relate to an incident in which police have earlier reported that a man in his 20s was found dead by the side of Martyville Road around 5:20am on 25 December 2024.

A police vehicle on Martyville Rd, Martyville - south of Innisfail where a man in his 20s was found dead on December 25. Picture: Supplied

A/Magistrate Heggie questioned whether alcohol was involved.

Mr Davey told the court Yakula was interviewed by police on December 25, and said to police he had two drinks of kava after work.

He said the police would not have persisted with the interview if they suspected Yakula was affected by a substance at that time.

“It seems to me the fail to remain occurred in a moment of panic, which I mention as context, not an excuse.” said Mr Davey.

He said Yakula was in Australia from Vanuatu on a six-month visa and had been in the country for just one month.

A/Magistrate Heggie noted there were ‘significant mitigating features’ and ‘unique facts’ in the case.

A/Magistrate Heggie granted Yakula bail on the conditions that he surrender his passport, report twice weekly to Innisfail police station and continue to live at his present Innisfail address, which was accommodation where a number of farm workers lived.

The matter has been adjourned for further mention in Innisfail Magistrates court on 17 February 2025 and Yakula will be required to appear in court.

Police have made an appeal for anyone with relevant vision or footage from dashcam and CCTV that may assist with information to come forward.

Originally published as Farm worker bailed over alleged fatal hit and run near Innisfail