An Adelaide woman accused of killing a prominent South Australian neuropsychologist and leaving him for dead drank more than a litre of red wine before the crash, a court has heard.
Key points:
- Lauren Jean Willgoose has pleaded not guilty to causing the death of Anthony Walsh by dangerous driving
- Prosecutors allege Ms Willgoose was over the legal blood alcohol limit at the time of the crash
- Her lawyer told the court they would contest how wet the road was, the degree of lighting and visibility
Lauren Jean Willgoose, 31, is accused of killing 70-year-old Anthony Walsh as he walked along Goodwood Road in the evening of June 30, 2021.
Ms Willgoose has pleaded not guilty to aggravated causing death by dangerous driving and leaving the scene of an accident.
She is standing trial in Adelaide’s District Court before Judge Nick Alexandrides, without a jury.
Prosecutor Michael Foundas told the court that on the night of the crash, Ms Willgoose had drunk about 1.15 litres of red wine at the Goody Hotel before getting behind the wheel to head to her home, approximately five minutes away.
“In a relatively well-lit area of Goodwood Road — Ms Willgoose drove into, drove through 70-year-old pedestrian Anthony Walsh, killing him,” Mr Foundas said.
“She did not brake, she did not swerve, there were no evasive manoeuvres whatsoever.
“She just kept on driving, effectively leaving Mr Walsh for dead.”
Based on expert advice on CCTV footage obtained from the Goody Hotel, prosecutors allege that Ms Willgoose’s blood alcohol reading would have been 0.23 per cent when she was driving.
The legal driving limit is below 0.08.
The court heard that Mr Walsh had been drinking while having dinner with his wife and two friends at a restaurant on Goodwood Road before the crash.
Mr Foundas told the court that Mr Walsh and his wife, who had not been drinking and was the designated driver, both said their goodbyes before the 70-year-old was the first to start crossing Goodwood Road to get to their car parked on the opposite side around 10:00pm that night.
The court heard that Mr Walsh was wearing a red jacket, blue jeans and a “bright-yellow hat” as he attempted to cross a “straight and unobscured” road.
“Ms Willgoose simply drove through Mr Walsh, tossing him up into the air and to the side of her vehicle,” Mr Foundas said.
“It caused a loud significant bang, so loud that it drew the attention of a number of people who were in the vicinity.
“So loud, on the prosecution case, it must have been apparent to the driver — Ms Willgoose — what had just occurred.”
It is alleged Ms Willgoose was driving 45 kilometres per hour at the time of the crash.
Mr Foundas told the court Ms Willgoose continued to drive home after the incident, and that she had made a series of phone calls to criminal law firms in the following hours.
The court heard that Mr Walsh sustained significant head injuries from the collision before his friend — who was also his GP — was able resuscitate his pulse shortly before an ambulance arrived.
He was then taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, but he never regained consciousness and died on July 19.
Representing Ms Willgoose, defence lawyer David Rice said they would be contesting how wet the road was, and the degree of lighting and visibility at time of the crash.
Mr Rice said that they will also argue that authorities do not necessarily agree that driving with a high blood alcohol level amounted to the charge of dangerous driving.
The trial will visit the scene of the crash and hear from witnesses on Wednesday.
