The Queen v MC (2017)
MC was charged with one count of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and one count of cause bodily harm by misconduct.
The facts in this matter involve a motor vehicle accident whereby MC was driving her vehicle down a main inner-city road, when she drove through a red traffic light and hit two pedestrians crossing the road. Both pedestrians were hospitalised, one of them obtaining severe injuries. MC was an elderly woman with no prior criminal history. She immediately tried to assist the victims and complied with police at every stage of her arrest and trial.
The evidence in this matter included video footage of MC driving towards the red traffic light, and subsequently speeding up to cross the intersection as quickly as possible once her mistake had been realised. This change in speed no doubt exacerbated the injuries sustained by the two victims.
Due to the remorse shown by MC, including letters drafted to the victims, as well as her faultless driving record and old age, MC was placed on a good behaviour bond for three years. As well as this she was disqualified from driving for two years. For a case of this magnitude avoiding a custodial sentence was a very good result.