Tradie killed elderly man and ‘callously sped away’
By Cloe Read
A Brisbane tradesman who hit an elderly man with his car and left him to die on the road has been jailed, with a court hearing he had more than 40 previous driving convictions.
He stopped about 15 metres down the road, looked in his rear vision mirror and made eye contact with a witness, those in the District Court in Brisbane heard.
Then he sped away, running a red light nearby.
Joshua Alexander Scott has been jailed after he hit an elderly man with his car in Chermside and drove away.Credit: Facebook
Joshua Alexander Scott was arrested after he struck Ian Victor Colwell, 72, at an intersection in Chermside, in Brisbane’s north, in March last year.
The court heard 37-year-old Scott had a “deplorable” traffic history, with dozens of convictions including speeding, drink and drug driving, and driving unlicensed.
Ian Colwell, 72, a former teacher and veteran, suffered a cardiac arrest in the ambulance on the way to hospital.
At the time he killed Colwell, he had been on a suspended sentence for a drug-related offence.
Colwell’s family on Friday spoke of their sadness and anger, remembering him for his dedication to the community.
At his sentencing on Friday, Scott pleaded guilty to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing Colwell’s death, and for the arson of the vehicle.
Crown Prosecutor Cameron Wilkins said Scott had told police he did not see Colwell crossing the road because he was daydreaming, and “just cruising”. He said there were no other cars around, so he was not trying to watch his speed.
Wilkins said Scott hit Colwell, who was crossing after being given the green pedestrian signal, about halfway across the street.
Bystanders helped Colwell, and called triple zero. His injuries, including bleeding and a cracked skull, were so significant, he suffered a cardiac arrest in the ambulance on the way to Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital.
Wilkins said Scott travelled to a friend’s house, where he concocted a story to report that his car was stolen. He made references to the friend that he had hit someone.
Scott then took the car and parked it near a house before setting it on fire. The prosecutor said this was done to remove evidence and to appear consistent with his false narrative that the car had been stolen and dumped.
Later at work, he started to set up an alibi with his boss that the car had been stolen. Scott eventually told his employer he had struck someone.
Police arrived at his workplace, and Scott said he wanted to make a complaint about his car being stolen. He then broke down and admitted what he had done.
The car was set on fire in Wavell Heights after the hit and run in Chermside.Credit: Nine News
Wilkins said Scott’s traffic history was deplorable. He said since 2006, Scott had amassed convictions including seven for unlicensed driving, 29 for speeding, two for using his phone while driving, one for driving with a drug in his system, and two drink-driving incidents, and multiple for failing to stop under police direction or at stop signs or red lights.
Colwell’s nephew, Damien Colwell, speaking on behalf of the family, told the court of how Colwell’s absence was felt every day during family conversations and gatherings.
“No family should have to face the reality of such a brutal, unnecessary loss,” he said, adding how Colwell had served the community so faithfully as a teacher and veteran.
Scott’s legal team said he had been working while in custody as a cleaner, and was on a waiting list to complete courses. The court heard he had written a letter of apology.
During sentencing, Judge John Allen KC said Scott was aware he had struck someone, and had seen him lying face down on the road.
“You made eye contact with a witness and callously sped away down Kittyhawk Drive,” Allen said.
He sentenced Scott to five years’ jail for the dangerous operation, and three years for the arson, to be served concurrently. He will be eligible to apply for parole in November.
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