A 'possessed' driver, Hollywood actor and 180km/hr crash: Woman is found not guilty of murder and sent to a mental hospital after mowing down a motorcyclist in bizarre circumstances

  • A female driver who killed a motorcyclist has been found not guilty of murder 
  • Court told the woman had a mental illness and heard a 'male voice in her head' 
  • She told court that the male voice told her to 'get Ewan McGregor'
  • It is believed she was referring to the actor's motorcycle doc 'Long Way Round'
  • The woman has a history of mental illness and non-compliance of treatment
  • She is being held in custody pending an official Mental Health Review 

By Laura Hedges For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 19:32 EDT, 29 October 2018 | Updated: 19:32 EDT, 29 October 2018

A woman who mowed down and killed a motorcyclist heard a male voice in her head telling her to 'get Ewan McGregor' moments before the collision. 

Vanessa Fraser had been travelling 180km/h when she ran over Trevor Moran, 49, near Cudgen Creek, New South Wales, in January last year.

She told police she was 'possessed' when she crashed into Mr Moran and has been found not guilty of murder due to a mental illness. 

Vanessa Fraser told a court that she was 'possessed' when she ran over Trevor Moran (pictured, left), 49, near Cudgen Creek, New South Wales, in January last year

Vanessa Fraser told a court that she was 'possessed' when she ran over Trevor Moran (pictured, left), 49, near Cudgen Creek, New South Wales, in January last year

Mr McGregor is known for a documentary series called 'Long Way Round' with fellow actor Charley Boorman, which saw the pair traveling the world on motorbikes. 

Fraser told police that she lost control of the car, according to the Courier Mail.

'And then that, that was him that it saw him and suddenly the car just swerved to the, to hit him,' she said.

Fraser will be held in custody pending a Mental Health Review.

Fraser was travelling at 180km/hr when she allegedly heard a male voice in her head, telling her to 'get Ewan McGregor' (pictured)

Fraser was travelling at 180km/hr when she allegedly heard a male voice in her head, telling her to 'get Ewan McGregor' (pictured)

It is believed she is referring to the Scottish actor's documentary 'Long Way Round' with fellow actor Charley Boorman (pictured, left), which saw the pair traveling the world on motorbikes

It is believed she is referring to the Scottish actor's documentary 'Long Way Round' with fellow actor Charley Boorman (pictured, left), which saw the pair traveling the world on motorbikes

Fraser had reportedly been in and out of mental health wards in 2012 and 2016 with a range of mental health problems including, 'recurrent episodes of delusional and manic behaviour', as well as psychosis and sleeplessness.

Court documents stated that Fraser had improved when on medication but stopped taking her treatment once she was released and she started smoking cannabis.  

The court heard that on the day of the incident, Fraser arrived at Sofitel Broadbeach Hotel in such a state that the night supervisor called an ambulance.

Fraser told police that she lost control of her car which was going at high speed when she hit Mr Moran near the Cudgen Creek overpass (pictured)

Fraser told police that she lost control of her car which was going at high speed when she hit Mr Moran near the Cudgen Creek overpass (pictured)

Fraser - who has a history of mental ilness - has not been convicted of murder and is instead being held in custody pending a Mental Health Review

Fraser - who has a history of mental ilness - has not been convicted of murder and is instead being held in custody pending a Mental Health Review

She had been complaining of 'heart palpitations', but when paramedics arrived she was 'aggressive and uncooperative' and sped away in her car.

Eight hours later, Fraser ploughed into Mr Moran between Byron Bay and the Cudgen Creek overpass, the court heard.

'I am satisfied on the balance of probabilities that at the time of the collision the accused laboured under such a defect of reason from the disease of her mind that she did not know the quality and nature of what she was doing,' said Supreme Court Judge Desmond Fagan.

Mr Moran has three adult children – now in their late 20s and early 30s – and was a much-loved member of the Tweed Heads Motor Cycle Enthusiast Club. 

Mr Moran has three adult children – now in their late 20s and early 30s – and was a much-loved member of the Tweed Heads Motor Cycle Enthusiast Club

Mr Moran has three adult children – now in their late 20s and early 30s – and was a much-loved member of the Tweed Heads Motor Cycle Enthusiast Club

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Woman found not guilty of murder sent to mental hospital after killing motorcyclist NSW

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