The teenager responsible for a fatal car accident that resulted in the death of a woman and her unborn child will remain in custody.
Nineteen-year-old Aaron Papazoglu, a provisional license holder, was driving a BMW that collided with a Kia station wagon on Friday evening. The impact caused the second vehicle to strike a 33-year-old woman who was eight months pregnant.
Emergency responders provided immediate aid to the woman at the scene in Hornsby, located in Sydney’s northwest. Despite being rushed to the hospital, both she and her unborn child tragically did not survive.
In court, Papazoglu’s attorney, Patrick Schmidt, explained that his client, who has no prior criminal or driving record, accelerated through an intersection when the traffic light turned orange.
Authorities suspect that the collision caused the Kia to be pushed into the woman after being rear-ended by another car.
Papazoglu now faces multiple charges, including dangerous driving resulting in death and causing the loss of a fetus.
Applying for bail, Schmidt said the Kia station wagon had stopped to let the pedestrians cross the road and Papazoglu would have been expecting the car to have completed its turn before he collided with it.
The teenager had not been using any drugs or alcohol, was not street racing and had not run a red light, he said.
“This wasn’t a prolonged, intentional act. This is ⦠a tragic outcome to a series of unfortunate events,” Schmidt said.
Police allege Papazoglu was speeding, although prosecutors were unsure what evidence supported that claim.
Papazoglu, who is studying a business degree at university, appeared in court via video link from a police holding cell, wearing a hooded jumper.
He sat silently with his head down as Magistrate Ray Plibersek read the facts about the case.
His lawyer presented character references to the court, including from his mother, aunt, uncle and his employer at an after-school care centre.
Plibersek noted Papazoglu’s “excellent” driving record and said he seemed to be a “young man of good standing” but knocked back his bail application due to the seriousness of the charges.
“It’s an absolutely tragic case,” he said.
“It’s a terrible outcome for two families ⦠the community’s heart goes out to (the victim’s) family for the tragic loss.”
Police had opposed bail due to the seriousness of the matter and said a prison sentence was likely if Papazoglu was convicted.
Papazoglu’s matter will return to court on Tuesday for a mention, with a brief of evidence due by January 18.
The magistrate asked Papazoglu if he understood what had happened in court.
“I just really want to see my family,” Papazoglu replied.
