Driver's Guilty Plea Halts Trial Over Fatal Ute Rollover in WA's Midwest
A 24-year-old man's guilty plea has halted a trial over a fatal ute rollover in Western Australia's remote Midwest that killed a weeks-old baby and two women. Nathaniel Jackman pleaded guilty to three counts of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.
A last-minute guilty plea by the driver of a ute has halted a trial over a fatal rollover crash in Western Australia's remote Midwest that killed a weeks-old baby and two women.
Nathaniel Jackman, 24, was due to face trial in the Geraldton District Court on Monday, but pleaded guilty to three counts of dangerous driving causing death, and two of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.
The crash occurred on the Geraldton-Mt Magnet Road near Yalgoo, about 500 kilometres north of Perth, just before 11pm on August 10, 2024.
Jackman was driving a Toyota Hilux with five passengers on board when it rolled, killing a weeks-old baby, Levi Ashwin, and two women, Gabrielle Brockman, 21, and Marrika Brockman, 33.
The court heard Levi's father, Dwayne Ashwin, and another passenger, Jeffrey Incich, were seriously injured and would have died without medical intervention.
Prosecutors said Mr Incich was permanently disabled as a result, and now requires 24 hour support.
The court was told the ute had travelled on the wrong side of the road and onto the verge for 70 metres before Jackman adjusted the wheel.
Prosecutors said Jackman had never held a licence, was driving tired and had too many passengers in the car at the time of the crash.
The court heard Jackman was driving under the influence of cannabis on the region's remote roads.
"Forced" to drive, says lawyer
Defence lawyer George Guidice said Jackman had been forced to drive, despite saying he could not.
Mr Guidice said the group had travelled from Kalgoorlie to Meekatharra the day before the crash for a funeral.
He said there had been arguments after the funeral, with some of the group keen to stay another night, and others wanting to drive onward to Geraldton.
"He says he's very sorry for ever getting in the driver's seat … and accepts he should have never got in the driver's seat."
Mr Guidice said Jackman fell asleep while travelling at around 90 kilometres per hour.
"He woke up and he tried to steer the car onto the road,"
Jackman's bail was extended with a $5,000 personal undertaking, a $2,500 surety, and conditions including reporting to police twice a week and providing urine samples.
He is due to appear before the District Court in Geraldton next February.