By Jeremy Sollars
The trial of a truck driver charged with the hit and run death of a cyclist near Inglewood on Anzac Day 2014 is due to be re-convened in the Warwick District Court tomorrow, Tuesday 30 January.
The case was last heard in the court way back in October 2016 but was put on hold due to legal argument.
Geoffrey Joseph Sleba, aged 44 at the start of the trial, pleaded not guilty in the Warwick District Court on Monday 17 October 2016 to dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and leaving the scene of an accident.
The Crown case alleges that former Tamworth veterinarian Dr Martin Pearson was killed after being struck by a truck being driven by Sleba while competing in a road cycling event on the Inglewood-Millmerrran Road around 3.15pm on the day in question.
The Crown further alleges that Sleba kept driving after the collision while Dr Pearson lay on the side of the road with fatal injuries.
A jury for the October 2016 trial was sworn in shortly before 11am on the first day but was directed to leave the courtroom for more than an hour while the Crown Prosecutor and Sleba’s defence counsel Peter Davis QC argued a series of points regarding evidence before Her Honour Judge Deborah Richards.
The Crown at that time had a list of nearly 40 witnesses to call to the stand, including more than a dozen police officers.
Dr Pearson’s wife Sandy Vigar and a number of supporters were in the public gallery at the Warwick Courthouse for the October 2016 trial, along with supporters of Sleba.
Tomorrow’s trial is due to start at 10am at the Warwick Courthouse.
The District Court visits Warwick on a ‘circuit’ several times a year.
