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A teenager has pleaded guilty to causing the death of SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens’ son Charlie by careless driving.
In the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Dhirren Singh Randhawa, 18, pleaded guilty to one aggravated charge of driving without due care.
Randhawa’s guilty plea to that charge and a separate charge of leaving the scene of an accident causing death were accepted by prosecutors, who dropped charges of dangerous driving causing death and failing to answer a question about the identity of the driver of a vehicle.
The Encounter Bay teenager hit 18-year-old Charlie Stevens with his car in Gulloa on November 17 last year, during schoolchildren’s week.
Stevens and his family were present in court for the proceedings and outside court, the commissioner became emotional as he commented on the development.
“We came to the magistrates court today and heard Dhirren plead guilty to aggravated assault causing death and leaving the scene of a collision,” he said.
“This is one step in the process, there are a few more steps, so I think it would be appropriate to say more at a later stage.
“I think on behalf of our family we would like to acknowledge that Dhirren has taken responsibility for his actions that caused us to lose our son Charlie. We were also handed a letter of apology and will take the time to read it. Thanks for understanding.”
Charlie Stevens died in hospital surrounded by friends and family, including his father, the following night.
More than 1,000 mourners paid their respects to the apprentices at an emotional memorial service at Adelaide Oval later that month.
Randhawa was remanded on bail to appear in the District Court in August for arraignment and sentencing.
He faces a maximum of 12 months in prison and a minimum of six months of disqualification for careless driving.
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