A Canberra teenager on trial for manslaughter has denied he was behind the wheel of a stolen car that crashed outside Parliament House, killing another boy in April 2024. The ACT Supreme Court heard the 15‑year‑old victim suffered “catastrophic” head injuries after being thrown 15 metres from the vehicle, a white Toyota Camry that rolled several times before landing on its roof on Adelaide Avenue.
The accused, who was 14 at the time and cannot be named, has pleaded not guilty to manslaughter and an alternative charge of culpable driving causing death. The court was told the only issue in dispute is who was driving at the time of the crash.
Before the collision, the Camry had been seen “driving erratically” in convoy with a stolen black Genesis, including on CCTV outside the prime minister’s residence, The Lodge.
An agreed statement of facts shows the accused and 20‑year‑old Jack Summerrell‑Jenkins exited the Camry immediately after the crash and were picked up by the Genesis. Defence barrister John Purnell argued it was Summerrell‑Jenkins not his client who was driving.
Both sides accepted that the manner of driving amounted to a criminal breach of duty of care. Prosecutors told the jury that blood samples found inside and outside the Camry were “one hundred billion times” more likely to belong to the accused than to anyone else.
+ There are no comments
Add yours