Driver was 'drunk and stoned' when his ute veered off a road and rolled in a horror crash that killed a German backpacker, court hears
- Michael Brian Hilton flipped his ute five times on a West Australia country road
- Sarah Hurt, 25, was flung out of the car and died
- Hilton blamed Ms Hurt for the accident in a court appearance
- He had a blood alcohol level of 0.095 shortly after the crash
A New Zealand national was drunk and stoned when the ute he was driving rolled off the road in a horror crash that killed a German backpacker, a court has been told.
Michael Brian Hilton and Sarah Hurt had been drinking beer at a pub in Perenjori, Western Australia, before he crashed the vehicle in the early hours of November 18, 2017, five minutes into his journey home.
The District Court of WA heard on Tuesday that Hilton had won $2,100 playing the Chase the Ace lottery in the pub and bought six more beers before leaving.
Michael Brian Hilton and Sarah Hurt had been drinking beer at a pub in Perenjori, Western Australia, before he crashed the vehicle
Just after 1.30am, Hilton crossed onto the wrong side of the road, hit gravel, veered back onto the road then hit gravel again before rolling up to five times, leaving skid marks for more than 200 metres.
Ms Hurt died at the scene.
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Hilton was treated for minor injuries by paramedics where he confessed that he had also been smoking cannabis and was arrested.
His blood alcohol reading was 0.095 but would have been much higher if taken earlier, the court heard.
Hilton was driving on a Western Australia country road at 1.30am when he lost control and flipped his ute five times
Hilton blamed Ms Hurt for the accident in court, claiming that she had reached behind her seat for a doona and fell into him which caused the crash.
Prosecutor Marina Greenshields said the claim was 'frankly quite self-serving' and urged Judge Stephen Scott to have little regard to it.
'Sarah Hurt can't say what happened that night,' Ms Greenshields said.
Judge Scott said supposition would not suffice, so the sentencing was adjourned.
While Hilton seeks a suspended sentence, the prosecutor called for a term of immediate imprisonment.
Hilton, who has served no time in custody, was granted bail but must pay a surety of $5,000, surrender his passport, not drive and report to police three times a week.
Hilton has not been held in custody and was granted bail but he can not drive, had his passport taken from him and must report to police three times a week.
Hilton and Ms Hurt had been drinking at a pub in Perenjori, 348km north of Perth and reportedly Hilton bought six more beers before they left to drive back to his home at Morowa farm
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