Tamworth man's negligent driving occasioning death offence proven after New England Highway crash at Moonbi in 2018

The man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, fronted a hearing in Tamworth Local Court after a crash near Moonbi in 2018 claimed the life of a little boy.

Magistrate Peter Thompson heard the matter and ultimately found the offence of negligent driving occasioning death had been proven, according to court documents from the proceedings.

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Prosecutors successfully argued the Tamworth man was driving negligently on the New England Highway when the crash occurred.

Legal Aid solicitor Wendy McAuliffe defended the man during the course of the hearing, which was listed to run for two days in the local court.

Much of the detail of the case cannot be reported for legal reasons.

The man, aged in his 20s, was driving a ute travelling south on the New England Highway near Moonbi when the crash occurred in late 2018, killing a child who was seated in the back.

Police from the Oxley Crash Investigation Unit in Tamworth charged the driver in May 2019, following a lengthy investigation.

The case was initially scheduled for trial in the district court earlier this year, after the accused pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death, a charge which was later dropped by prosecutors.

A hearing in the local court was set instead, and the offence of negligent driving occasioning death was found to be proven.

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