Coroners’ Court hits pause on notorious road case

By Monique Preston

Nov 10, 2023

In court: The Coroners’ Court has put an inquest into a notorious Goulburn Valley intersection on hold. Photo by supplied

A coronial inquest into two fatal crashes at Strathmerton where six people died, has been put on hold.

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Tasmanian man Kerry Rushton died in a crash between his Toyota HiAce van and an unmarked police Ford Ranger at the intersection of Murray Valley Hwy and Labuan Rd on February 15 last year.

In a second fatal crash at the same intersection, five people died after their ute was involved in a collision with a car and a truck on April 20 this year.

Cobram woman Debbie Markey and four overseas residents — Pin-Yu Wang, Hsin-Yu Chen, Wai Yan Lam and Zih-Yao Chen — lost their lives in the second crash.

A directions hearing had been held in the Coroners’ Court in May, just over a month after the April 20 collision.

It had been hoped then that part of the coronial inquest would be able to run parallel to the criminal proceedings against one of the drivers in the April crash.

Counsel assisting the coroner Lindsay Spence told the court then that normally coronial inquests would occur after the charges were finalised in the criminal court, but in this case, the coronial inquest should run at the same time as criminal proceedings, as there were matters the coroner would investigate that the criminal court would not.

However, on Thursday, November 9, Mr Lindsay told a mention hearing in the Coroners’ Court that further discussions with parties since then found that this no longer seemed possible.

Fatality: A crash that killed five people in April is one of two crashes that will be the focus of a coronial inquest. Photo by Rechelle Zammit

He said Christopher Dillon Joannidis, 29, who now lives in Glen Iris, has been charged with five counts of dangerous driving causing death.

He has pleaded not guilty and will face trial in the County Court, with the Coroners’ Court told that this would be in the second half of next year at the earliest.

While the Coroners’ Court had hoped to investigate the safety design and engineering of the road now, the court was told these may be factors in the criminal case against Mr Joannidis.

Coroner Ingrid Giles said she would suspend the inquest until after the criminal proceedings against Mr Joannidis were finalised.

Notorious intersection: The Coroners’ Court will investigate two fatal accidents at Strathmerton.

“While I’m deeply desirous of finalising the coronial proceedings without delay, this cannot be at the expense of any criminal proceedings,” she said.

Ms Giles suspended the coronial inquest to a date yet to be fixed.

When the inquest restarts, the coroner will investigate the accident history of the intersection — including fatal and non-fatal crashes.

She will also investigate changes that have been made at the intersection since the crashes, as well as any planned changes, and the time frame on them being completed.

The coroner will also investigate police procedures after Mr Joannidis was intercepted by police prior to the April fatal collision.

Among those represented at the inquest will be the families of four of the overseas victims from the multiple fatality, the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, the Victoria Police chief commissioner and Moira Shire Council.