Modified car ‘became airborne’

Press, 14 February 1986, Page 9

Modified car ‘became airborne’

One man was killed and two women were injured when a car driven by Richard William Holland became airborne for 11 metres before crashing into a bank at Little River on October 26, last year, said Sergeant M. P. Caldwell in the District Court yesterday. Holland, aged 19, a trainee technician (Mr D. J. Boyle), admitted causing the death of Wayne Michael Kerr by driving at a dangerous speed, causing bodily injury to Tanya Marie Whitford by driving at a dangerous

speed, and causing bodily injury to Karen Bridget Freeman by driving carelessly. He was convicted by Judge Sheehan and remanded at large for two weeks for a probation report and sentence. Sergeant Caldwell said at 10.30 a.m. on October 26 the defendant, and his three passengers, left Birdlings Flat to go to Little River.

The car, which had been modified for competitive purposes, travelled at speeds of up to 160km/h.

After getting into roadside shingle at one stage, Holland braked, causing the car to skid for 35 metres before becoming airborne for a further 11 metres. The vehicle then crashed into the bank of a ditch. Kerr, who had not been wearing a seat belt, sustained injuries from which he died. Whitford suffered multiple facial injuries and was hospitalised for six weeks, while Freeman, as a result of her injuries, had been unable to resume her job as a shorthand typist, said Sergeant Caldwell.

The defendant, a first offender, who was also injured, was unable to recall his actions at the time of the accident, he said. SIX MONTHS JAIL A man, aged 43, who indecently assaulted a boy, aged 15, and permitted the boy to do an indecent act on him was puzzled by his behaviour because he did not consider himself to have any homosexual tendencies, said counsel, Mr E. Bedo.

Maurice Winston Clark, a dog trainer, admitted the offending which involved acts of oral sex at his sleepout on the night of January 5. Before this the pair had dined at an inner city restaurant and had left in an intoxicated state.

Mr Bedo said there had been no physical compulsion for the complainant to engage in the acts of indecency. The Judge, in sending Clark to prison for six months, said the courts were required to impose a penalty which reflected the seriousness of an offence, and which would act as a deterrent to others. THEFT AS SERVANTS Three men who admitted stealing 16 rolls of galvanised chain link netting, valued at $2492, from their employer, told the police they just wanted to make some

extra money, said Sergeant Caldwell. Gregory Daniel Browne, aged 24, a truck driver; David John Spencer, aged 29, unemployed, and lan Bruce Sinclair, aged 21, a. process worker, were convicted. They were each remanded on bail of $lOOO to February 27 for probation reports and sentence. Sergeant Caldwell said Browne had been promised $5O to load some extra rolls of link netting into his truck. This was done and the netting was taken to Spencer’s address. All the stolen netting, the property of Hurricane Wire Products, was recovered. Browne did not receive the promised $5O, said Sergeant Caldwell. HOMEBAKE Bail was not opposed by the police for a man facing charges relating to the manufacture of morphine, or homebake. Bryce Frank Doidge, aged 38, is charged with knowingly permitting his premises in Crohane Place to be used to manufacture morphine, possession of laboratory utensils, possession of needles and a syringe, and the possession of cannabis leaf, and cannabis seed. The police say the offending took place between February 10 and 12.

Doidge, who did not plead, was remanded on bail of $6OO to February