Mother’s grief

GUILTY PLEA OVER DEATH CRASH ‘I am still devastated that Vanessa died without her loved ones around her’

A GRIEVING mother has told a court she is devastated her “darling girl” died without her loved ones around her.

Vanessa Hayward, 42, died in a car crash in suburban Hobart in June last year.

In the Supreme Court in Hobart yesterday, Zach James MuirBennett, 25, of Gagebrook, pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving.

The court heard Muir-Bennett killed Ms Hayward on the night of June 22 when he crashed into the car she was driving while he was speeding through the streets of New Town.

Ms Hayward’s mother, Mary, read a victim impact statement to the court yesterday.

“This senseless act has left a mother without her daughter, a father without his daughter, a brother without his only sister, and a niece without her aunt,” Mrs Hayward said.

“How does one quantify such a loss?”

She described seeing her daughter “lying in a coffin with pain etched on her face”.

Mrs Hayward said her daugh- ter’s family and friends would miss the joy and love Vanessa brought to their lives.

“I am still devastated that Vanessa died without her loved ones around her.

“I have no doubt that the young man driving had no intention to kill Vanessa but driving in such a reckless manner, he did.”

Crown prosecutor Jackie Hartnett said Vanessa Hayward had been driving home from Kmart in New Town when the crash happened.

Ms Hartnett said Muir-Bennett, whose learner driver’s licence had been suspended, and another man were driving in the area with Muir-Bennett behind the wheel.

She said they saw a police car on Forster St and took evasive action, speeding through the backstreets of New Town.

At the time, Ms Hayward was driving home from Kmart and had right of way at the intersection of Roope and Pirie streets.

“The accused was rapidly approaching the intersection at such speed and in such a manner ... he could neither stop nor brake in time to avoid the impact,” Ms Hartnett said.

She said Muir-Bennett was driving at 80km/h in a 50km/h zone.

“The force of the impact was immense. Residents described it [as being] like an explosion. Many came out of their houses to render assistance,” she said.

She said residents also reported seeing two men flee the scene.

The court heard Muir-Bennett went to police on June 26.

Muir-Bennett’s lawyer, Todd Kovacic, said while his client did “lay low for a number of days”, he did contact the police himself.

“He is quite remorseful,” Mr Kovacic said.

He said Muir-Bennett was not avoiding the police because of his driver’s licence status, but rather because there were warrants out for the arrest of his passenger, who asked him to stay away from the police.

Mr Kovacic read parts of a letter Muir-Bennett wrote about the crash: “He says that he can’t apologise enough to the victim’s family and friends.”

The letter also described “such a tragic outcome arising out of my senseless stupidity”.

Acting Justice Porter is expected to sentence Muir-Bennett, who was remanded in custody, on Wednesday.