A Queensland lady accused of utilizing the identify of a useless Sea World pilot to get out of a site visitors high quality has apologized, blaming cash and an damage for her alleged crime.
In an e mail to courtroom on Thursday, 33-year-old Park Ridge lady Stephanie Louise Bennett admitted to signing a declaration blaming Ash Jenkinson, the 40-year-old helicopter pilot killed within the Gold Coast Sea World tragedy final January, because the individual utilizing their cellphone behind the wheel.
Bennett was beforehand caught on digicam utilizing her cell phone whereas driving, however she allegedly blamed the pilot for the offense seven days after he was killed.
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The pair had by no means met.
Bennett allegedly took Jenkinson’s date of beginning and identify from his obituary to appoint him as the motive force on-line.
Police say the alarm was raised when Jenkinson’s grieving accomplice acquired the infringement discover at their residence.
Bennett didn’t seem within the Beenleigh Magistrates Court docket on Thursday and as an alternative wrote an e mail apologizing to the Jenkinson household.
The e-mail included a responsible plea. Nevertheless, the Justice of the Peace rejected it and stated she wanted to seem in individual.
Bennett is because of subsequent seem earlier than the courtroom on April 20.
Jenkinson was considered one of 4 folks killed when two helicopters collided mid-air and crashed right into a sandbar on the Gold Coast on January 2.
British couple Ron and Diane Hughes, 65 and 57, and Sydney mom Vanessa Tadros, 36, have been additionally killed within the horror crash.
Tadros’ son, 10-year-old Nicholas, had his leg amputated after struggling accidents within the crash.
Victorian mom Winnie de Silva, 33, and her nine-year-old son Leon have been additionally critically injured.
The pilot of the second helicopter, Michael James, was in a position to land the plane safely, however he and his two passengers, New Zealand girls Elmarie Steenberg and Marle Swart, have been injured when their windshield shattered within the crash.
