B-double death case still in limbo

THE Crown is proceeding with a manslaughter charge against a man allegedly involved in a Cardwell incident that led to Zachary Crease being run over and killed by a B-double truck.

At a Cairns Supreme Court indictment presentation, prosecutor Nathan Crane said the Crown would be pursuing the charge brought against Gaugu Robert Sailor in relation to the Bruce Highway incident on June 21, 2020.

“There may or may not have been a fight beforehand in which the defendant was involved,” he told the court.

However, the case was not yet ready to proceed.

Solicitor Joshua Trevino with the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Legal Service, acting for Mr Sailor, said the evidence presently disclosed meant events leading up to the death were “unclear”.

“This was a case that was crying out for a committal proceeding,” he said.

Justice Jim Henry asked if ATSILS had made an application to which Mr Trevino answered “no”.

“The purpose of the mention is for the defence to indicate whether or not an application for a pre-trial hearing needs to be made and in turn for the court to determine if there needs to be a Basha hearing,” Justice Henry said.

A new mention has been slated for November 19 at 9am, bail is enlarged.