Driver has no case to answer over mates' deaths | Crime

Peter Hardwick | 1st December 2008

Alexander Corlis

THE driver of a car which rolled off the Gore Highway near Millmerran leading to the deaths of Goondiwindi rugby players Marcus MacDonald and Jamie McNulty in 2006 will not stand trial for their deaths.

Nor will 21-year-old Alexander John Corlis have to stand trial for dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to Andrew Newell, another passenger of Corlis's Commodore sedan that fatal day in August, 2006.

A sitting of the District Court in Toowoomba yesterday was packed with family and friends of those involved in the tragedy.

Those attending erupted in varying degrees of emotions when Acting Judge Devereaux, SC, ruled yesterday there was no evidence that Corlis's driving had lead to the deaths of MacDonald, 19, and McNulty, 18, and to the serious injuries sustained by Newell.

All three were back seat passengers in the 2005 Commodore which rolled off the Gore Highway near Captains Mountain outside Millmerran about 9.30am, August 19, 2006.

Police believe a tyre blow-out had caused Corlis to lose control of the car which rotated clockwise across the highway and crashed into a tree before rolling and bursting into flames.

The deceased were incinerated.

Corlis and a fifth passenger Boaz Merin escaped with relatively minor injuries.

The five, members of the Goondiwindi Emus Under 19 team, were en route to Toowoomba to contest the grand final that day.

Corlis was committed to stand trial on charges of dangerous driving causing death and grievous bodily harm after a committal hearing in Toowoomba Magistrates Court in April.

That hearing heard that a tearful Corlis at the scene of the crash had told police he had been driving at speeds of up to 150kmh during the trip from Goondiwindi.

The Crown contended the excessive speed led to the dangerous operation of the vehicle which, because of the speed, would inevitably travel out of control once the tyre blew.

However, during pre-trial legal argument yesterday, Corlis's barrister Steve Zillman submitted there was no evidence that excessive speed had contributed in any significant way to the result of the tragedy.

Mr Zillman argued that the tyre blow-out had caused the tragedy which might well have occurred had the car been travelling within the speed limit of 100kmh.

Expert opinion agreed the most experienced driver could not have avoided the outcome after the tyre blow-out.

Acting Judge Devereaux ruled, on the evidence as it stood, the charges of dangerous driving causing death and grievous bodily harm should not be put before a jury.

Crown prosecutor Vicky Lowry yesterday also withdrew an additional, but lesser charge, of dangerous driving against Corlis.

Want to know more?
Parents left to lament tragic death

Previous | Next