"I got into a car accident, I need your help. I think I killed someone, I'll pay you lots of money to take me to Canberra." Black Friday Sale Subscribe Now! Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue The desperate plea was made in the early hours of November 19, 2023, by self-proclaimed burnout enthusiast Marcus William Hargrave.
The person he had just killed before fleeing the fatal Cooma scene in a drunken panic was his friend, Michael Ryan, or "Smiley". "A year ago, Michael Ryan was at a party enjoying himself with his fiance," Judge Jennifer English said on Tuesday during sentencing proceedings. "He was not to know that as a result of getting into a motor vehicle with the offender, he would miss out on his wedding, becoming a loving husband, having another chance at fatherhood.
"He died through no fault of his own. All his thoughts, hopes and dreams ended instantly in a collision that occurred solely because of the actions of this offender. "Someone who cold-heartedly left his friend dead in a motor vehicle and walked away without even trying to render assistance, or remain with him, or immediately call emergency services.
" 'Extremely cowardly' Hargrave faced the Queanbeyan District Court after pleading guilty to manslaughter "by gross negligence". The judge.
