A speeding P-plater who killed one woman and badly injured another will spend Christmas at home with his family, after an 11th-hour bid by his lawyers.
Simon Mouait pleaded guilty to charges of dangerous driving occasioning death and dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, over the horrific crash in Beecroft, in Sydney’s north, in March 2023.
The now 22-year-old’s Toyota Hilux ute collided with another vehicle before striking two 55 and 54-year-old women who were walking nearby.
The older woman died at the scene, while the other was taken to hospital in a critical condition.
Mouait admitted during a sentence hearing today that he was speeding and rapidly changing lanes at the time of the crash, but denied the behaviour was thrill-seeking.
“I just zoned out. Not in the right head space,” he said.
Also today, a judge begrudgingly agreed to delay sentencing Mouait, following a last-minute application by his legal team to have him assessed by a psychiatrist.
Judge Timothy Gartelmann told the court the application would mean delaying sentencing for several months and that it left the court in an “invidious position”.
“There is no good reason why the evidence has not been obtained to date,” he said.
Judge Gartelmann noted the impact of delaying the matter on the victims’ family members, but said if the defence were to obtain evidence that gave rise to appeal the sentence, it would mean prolonging the matter regardless.
“It is for this reason with considerable regret that I propose to grant the application,” he said.
The matter was adjourned for sentencing on March 7.
