‘Worst thing I could do’: Police seek to allay outrage after death of parents-to-be
Senior police have sought to allay community outrage over the deaths of two pedestrians in Brisbane’s bayside this week, urging that facts would come to light in court about “how the hell this happened”.
The remarks follow media reports and comments by the Queensland Premier about the history of the 17-year-old accused driver charged with two counts of murder over the deaths of parents-to-be Kate Leadbetter and Matthew Field on Australia Day.
Police Assistant Commissioner Brian Codd said autopsy results would be returned to police on Thursday, with drug and alcohol testing under way to determine what substances the teen might have had in his bloodstream at the time of the crash in Alexandra Hills.
The teen, from Waterford West, faces a string of charges over the incident in Alexandra Hills on Australia Day, including two counts of murder and dangerous operation of a vehicle while affected by an intoxicating substance.
After Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk raised questions on Thursday morning about why the teen was allowed “out on bail”, Mr Codd offered as much clarification as he legally could.
“He was not on bail with any conditions, or released on bail ... with any conditions, or released on bail for any matters, serious matters, serious criminal matters, that are analogous to the events that we saw on Tuesday,” he told reporters. “And to draw that conclusion is unhelpful to anybody at this stage.”
“I think the discussion, more broadly, about how the hell this happened ... is a really important message. All of these facts will be released when the courts allow it to occur in open court in the weeks and months to come.
Locals gather at the intersection for a vigil on Thursday afternoon.Credit:Toby Crockford
“I think the very, very important part of this is that we look at facts, so that when we come together as a community and a judicial system ... that we are basing it on facts. That we don’t allow the discussion to be waylaid by agendas or inaccuracies.”
Mr Codd said the “worst thing” he could do as a police officer, or any of his colleagues putting the investigation together could do, would be to “give anybody the opportunity to interfere with the successful prosecution and examination of this matter by the courts”.
“I’m not going to compromise it, it is far too important,” he said.
Police allege the teenager stole a Toyota Landcruiser from a nearby suburb before hitting a truck while driving through an intersection, causing his vehicle to roll and hit the couple as they were crossing the road while walking their dogs.
A vigil for the couple and their unborn child was held on Wednesday at the intersection of Vienna and Finucane roads, where flowers and baby socks were placed.
The teen was arrested nearby a short time later and appeared in the Brisbane Children’s Court on Wednesday. He was remanded in custody to reappear on March 24. For legal reasons, he cannot be named.
Mr Codd said further charges flagged by police relating to the death of the couple’s unborn child entered into a “really complicated” area of the law regarding age.
“We acknowledge that there was a third life involved here from a human perspective,” he said. “Where that sits legally is something that we are seeking advice on.”
He reiterated that there were provisions under the Criminal Code for death of an unborn child under certain circumstances, and even if these did not apply in this case it would be a “very influential part” of the broader court proceedings.
Matt Dennien is a reporter with Brisbane Times.