Tasmanian man pleads guilty to causing British tourist’s road death in central Hobart
Three years ago, British tourist Claire Litchfield was fatally struck by a car as she crossed Argyle Street. The driver has now pleaded guilty to negligently causing her death.
Police & Courts
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THREE years ago, a British tourist celebrating a milestone birthday in Tasmania was run over as she crossed a central Hobart road.
Until now, 56-year-old Allan Charles Kelly has pleaded not guilty to causing her death by negligent driving.
The seriously-delayed case finally reached a resolution on Monday, when Kelly changed his plea to guilty just as he was about to fight the charges in a contested Hobart Magistrates Court hearing.
Magistrate Michael Daly heard the case was delayed in part because after the accident, Kelly returned to his home country of Scotland, which then went into full lockdown during the Covid pandemic.
The court heard that on September 19, 2019, 39-year-old British woman Claire Louise Litchfield and her partner Mark Tidborough were in Hobart celebrating Ms Litchfield’s forthcoming 40th birthday.
They’d spent the day sightseeing and had just had dinner at Salamanca, and had decided to venture out again that evening from their accommodation at the YHA in Argyle Street.
But as the court heard, Kelly struck the pair as they crossed the road near the Collins Street intersection, entering from the right lane on Collins Street onto the middle lane on Argyle Street by “cutting across the line”.
“Mr Tidborough was knocked to the ground, and at the same time he observed the deceased go under the vehicle and the wheels run over her,” a prosecutor told Mr Daly.
Witnesses observed Mr Tidborough kneeling beside his partner, “very distressed”, repeatedly saying “he hit her, we had a green light and had right of way”.
A woman observed Kelly leaning on his vehicle, smoking and appearing “shell-shocked, and seemed like he might collapse”.
Nearby hospital staff quickly arrived and assisted with Ms Litchfield’s breathing until she was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital.
But she was declared deceased at 8.40pm.
The prosecutor said damage to Kelly’s car was consistent with Ms Litchfield being dragged under the vehicle.
She noted the delay had caused Ms Litchfield’s family further distress and noted Kelly’s plea of guilty was entered at a late stage in proceedings.
Defence lawyer Craig Rainbird said Kelly didn’t see the couple crossing the road – but had no explanation as to why.
“Mr Kelly accepts by his plea that his lookout was defective,” Mr Rainbird said.
“He takes full responsibility for causing the accident.”
The lawyer said Kelly was overcome with ongoing grief for causing the accident and would constantly relive the episode.
“Mr Kelly is devastated with what has happened. He’s explained not a day goes by that Mr Kelly doesn’t think of Ms Litchfield and her family,” he said.
Kelly, who is on bail, has pleaded guilty to causing the death of another person by negligent driving and driving without a licence.
Another charge, driving without due care and attention, was discontinued.
Kelly will return to court on October 24 for sentencing.
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