By Jeremy Sollars
THE truck driver accused of the hit and run death of a cyclist near Inglewood in April 2014 is due to face trial in the Warwick District Court this Monday, 17 October.
Geoffrey Joseph Sleba is charged with the death of 61-year-old former Tamworth vet Dr Martin Pearson on the Inglewood-Millmerran Road, while Dr Pearson was competing in a road cycling event.
The Crown will allege that Sleba, aged 44 at the time, was the driver of a truck which fatally struck Dr Pearson and that Sleba failed to stop at the scene.
A former veterinarian at South Tamworth Animal Hospital, Dr Pearson was living in Lowood at the time and was an associate professor of veterinary anaesthesia at the University of Queensland Gatton Campus up until his death.
An investigation was mounted by specialist crash and forensic police into Dr Pearson’s death and a truck was seized for examination after it was intercepted at Oakey in June 2014.
Following investigations Sleba was arrested on 10 July 2014 and charged with one count each of dangerous driving causing death and failing to obtain medical aid for a person injured in a traffic accident and showing a disregard for their needs.
The trial at the Warwick Courthouse before Judge Richards is due to commence at 10am on Monday.
