A 19-year-old man accused of causing a fatal crash that killed a pregnant woman and her unborn child in Sydney’s north has been denied bail. The incident occurred on George Street in Hornsby around 8 p.m. on Friday, when the 33-year-old victim was critically injured and later died at Westmead Hospital despite emergency treatment.
The accused, Aaron Papazoglu, appeared in court via video link facing charges of dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death, and causing the loss of a fetus. Police allege he ran through an orange light at excessive speed, leading another vehicle to collide with the victim.
Sergeant Candice Chapman argued strongly against bail, citing the seriousness of the charges and the likelihood of a custodial sentence. She told the court that granting bail could risk Papazoglu failing to appear and endangering community safety. Chapman further alleged that the accused intentionally ran a yellow light, stressing that the act was not a “momentary lapse in judgment.”
Magistrate Ray Plibersek, however, noted there was no direct evidence of speeding, saying police were asking the court to make an “inference.” Despite this, bail was denied.
Papazoglu’s lawyer, Patrick Schmidt, defended his client as a Macquarie University student with no criminal record and strong community ties. He emphasized that there was no alcohol, drugs, street racing, or police pursuit involved in the incident.
The case has drawn significant attention, highlighting the devastating consequences of dangerous driving and the legal complexities surrounding bail decisions in fatal crash cases.
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