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A teenager accused of running a red light and rear-ending a car that collided with and killed a heavily pregnant woman has been released on bail after his mother offered $50,000 to secure his freedom.
Aaron Papazoglu, 19, faced Downing Centre Local Court on Friday charged with causing the death of 33-year-old mother Samanvitha Dhareshwar and her unborn child by negligent and dangerous driving.
Aaron Papazoglu has been charged with causing the death of Samanvitha Dhareshwar and her unborn child.Credit: Instagram
Dhareshwar died after a Kia station wagon Papazoglu allegedly rear-ended was shunted into her while she was walking with her husband and another child near the entrance of the Hornsby train station car park last Friday night.
Dhareshwar, who was eight months pregnant, survived the initial collision, and was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition, but later died alongside her unborn child.
Papazoglu has been charged with dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death, causing the loss of a fetus and death of a pregnant woman, and not stopping at a red light.
Police prosecutor sergeant David Langton told the court Papazoglu posed a risk to community safety if released, but said bail conditions and a $50,000 surety offered by the teenager’s mother would mitigate other risks, including the possibility of failing to appear in court.
Samanvitha Dhareshwar and her unborn child died after a car allegedly rear-ended by Aaron Papazoglu hit her near Hornsby train station.
“These offences are on the upper end of objective seriousness. Jail does loom large,” Langton said.
“He was travelling above the speed limit, he’s gone through an orange light, he’s gone through a red light.”
Papazoglu’s barrister, Allan Goldsworthy, told the court his client had strong community support, was of “demonstrably good character”, worked at a childcare centre, and had upcoming university exams to complete.
“This case boils down to a singular error on a roadway, an allegation of a singular error, albeit with a tragic consequence,” Goldsworthy said.
Magistrate Scott Nash granted Papazoglu bail subject to a set of strict conditions, which included not being able to drive a motor vehicle and reporting to police weekly.
Nash said the alleged facts tendered by police were “distressing”.
Nash said a “reasonably strong prosecution case” against Papazoglu meant a term of imprisonment was “on the cards”, but it was not guaranteed.
Papazoglu, dressed in prison greens, waved to members of his family, who sat in the front row of the courtroom.
Dhareshwar’s death shocked the local community, sparking an outpouring of grief.
“Tragic loss… a loving mother who was just weeks away from welcoming her child,” a tribute posted to social media said.
Another said: “Our prayers and thoughts are with her husband, her child, and all those who knew and loved her.”
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Flowers and cards were laid at the car park entrance where Dhareshwar and her unborn child died.
One mourner said she was on her nightly walk at the time of the collision, arriving at the scene “just after the accident”.
“While we don’t know each other, it was a great privilege to be present with you for those moments,” she said.
“I pray for you and your little one, that you are held with love as you leave this world. Those moments present with you have imprinted a greater depth of love, care and compassion in me.”
In an earlier bid for bail on Sunday, Papazoglu’s lawyer at the time, Patrick Schmidt, told Parramatta Local Court his client had no previous criminal history or driving offences to his name, and was not speeding at the time of the collision or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
“This wasn’t a prolonged, intentional act,” Schmidt said.
Tributes left on George Street, Hornsby, where Samanvitha Dhareshwar who was eight months pregnant was struck and killed by a car. Credit: Janie Barrett
“This is… a tragic outcome to a series of unfortunate events.”
Schmidt said Papazoglu would have expected the Kia station wagon to have turned into the car park, but had collided with it after it stopped to let the pedestrians cross.
Papazoglu’s matter will return to court on January 13.
with AAP
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