Boy pleads guilty over mate's death in crash

12:00a.m. 13th May 2008

It was barely audible when a 16-year-old youth accused of causing his mate’s death behind the wheel of a car first said the word “guilty”.

The judge’s associate had to prompt him a second time for his plea yesterday to an indictment charging him with being intoxicated when his dangerous driving caused the death of Bli Bli’s David Blackman, aged 15, near Gympie in September.

The teen, who cannot be named because of his age, also pleaded guilty in Maroochydore District Court to dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm to two other teenage passengers while adversely affected by an intoxicating substance.

There were five Bli Bli teenagers in a Holden Commodore driven by the then 15-year-old when it crashed on the Bruce Highway, near Kybong, just after 3am on September 15 last year.

The driver and a 17-year-old front passenger had to be cut free from the crumpled car.

It is believed the teen who died was not wearing a seatbelt and was thrown from the car.

The 17-year-old was fighting for his life in the Royal Brisbane Hospital for several weeks after being airlifted with head and spine injuries.

Two 15-year-old passengers spent time in Nambour General Hospital recovering from broken limbs.

A passing motorist is believed to have raised the alarm after spotting two of the teenagers walking down the road in a state of shock.

Police told media shortly after the crash that they believed the teens had earlier been at a party drinking.

The 16-year-old driver’s appearance in the enclosed glass prisoner’s dock yesterday was brief as the court adjourned his case for a pre-sentence report to be prepared.

The report is expected to assist the judge in sentencing the teen.

The youth’s bail was continued until his next court appearance on a date to be fixed.