Roosters’ Sandon Smith charged with negligent driving causing grievous bodily harm

[mightyrooster]

A dozen or so times since police charged Sandon I've had to inch out of car spaces at malls, by both reversing and driving forward...my view from my sedan car blocked on both sides by SUVs etc.
I inched out all times with hazard lights activated.
Do all pedestrians stop? No, just keep walking!
Do all cars stop? No, just keep driving!
There's no answer to the problem the inching out driver has...it's a lottery.
Luck dictates whether or not the inching out driver has an accident and ends up in court for sentencing.
Well, the only guaranteed safe way to avoid it is to buy a large SUV etc, or stay away from car parks altogether and shop online for everything.
That leaves inching out of your driveway where your view is blocked by a truck etc.
The only solution is to drive back inside and call a cab...obviously.

or vehicles have cameras built into all corners of them, so the driver can see clearly any approaching vehicles/pedestrians.
Maybe retro fitted wireless cameras bolted onto the corners.

Good point BB. I don’t drive but am regularly in the passenger seat when the other half had to inch out of parking spots with huge SUVs or US style monster trucks either side. I often comment I don’t know how he does it when you can’t see a thing with the obstructed view.

[bondi.boy]

A dozen or so times since police charged Sandon I've had to inch out of car spaces at malls, by both reversing and driving forward...my view from my sedan car blocked on both sides by SUVs etc.
I inched out all times with hazard lights activated.
Do all pedestrians stop? No, just keep walking!
Do all cars stop? No, just keep driving!
There's no answer to the problem the inching out driver has...it's a lottery.
Luck dictates whether or not the inching out driver has an accident and ends up in court for sentencing.
Well, the only guaranteed safe way to avoid it is to buy a large SUV etc, or stay away from car parks altogether and shop online for everything.
That leaves inching out of your driveway where your view is blocked by a truck etc.
The only solution is to drive back inside and call a cab...obviously.

or vehicles have cameras built into all corners of them, so the driver can see clearly any approaching vehicles/pedestrians.
Maybe retro fitted wireless cameras bolted onto the corners.

[player 1]

Best wishes for him during sentencing and any further measures that the NRL may be considering. No hate/disrespect towards the guy who got injured but IMO it really does sound like a series of unfortunate events with him being used as the scapegoat.

Like I dunno... the cops even admitted he was inching out, the other person only saw at the last minute (probably wasn't concentrating) and some random dude just so happened to be in a place where his foot got crushed between the car and the kerb (how? Suggests he parked 1m out from the kerb and was part of the problem as USUALLY I woulda thought you'd park on the farking kerb and be standing on it while getting your kid out... apparently not).

Curious why he hasn't challenged. Won't speculate though... just hope he's arranged a good plea bargain.

---

According to a set of police facts tendered to the court, Smith was attempting to inch his way out of a driveway on Old South Head Road at Vaucluse on the morning of March 13.

At the time, his view to the right was obstructed by parked cars and he 'continually edged' his vehicle to 'gain a clear view of the oncoming traffic'.

At the same time, a Toyota Kluger was driving along Old South Head Road when the female driver suddenly noticed Smith's vehicle 'appear in front of two parked vehicles and merge into her lane', according to the court documents.

The female driver attempted to brake; however, she collided with the front of Smith's car.

At the same time, a 38-year-old man was on the outside of his parked car and was attempting to get his son out of the rear door.

The man's vehicle was bumped forward, according to the police facts, pushing the wheel onto his right foot and leaving it wedged between the tyre and the kerb.

Smith and the other driver both returned negative results when they were given roadside breath tests.

As a result of his injuries, the man underwent 'many surgeries' and his little toe had to be amputated, according to the police facts.

He also suffered further fractures in his fibular and right foot.

According to court documents, the man continues to see a psychiatrist, physiotherapist and pain specialist for his injuries and may need further surgeries.

Police charged Smith with negligent driving, saying the man's injuries amounted to grievous bodily harm.

definitely the wrong colour.

What a disgrace.

[ism22]

Best wishes for him during sentencing and any further measures that the NRL may be considering. No hate/disrespect towards the guy who got injured but IMO it really does sound like a series of unfortunate events with him being used as the scapegoat.

Like I dunno... the cops even admitted he was inching out, the other person only saw at the last minute (probably wasn't concentrating) and some random dude just so happened to be in a place where his foot got crushed between the car and the kerb (how? Suggests he parked 1m out from the kerb and was part of the problem as USUALLY I woulda thought you'd park on the farking kerb and be standing on it while getting your kid out... apparently not).

Curious why he hasn't challenged. Won't speculate though... just hope he's arranged a good plea bargain.

---

According to a set of police facts tendered to the court, Smith was attempting to inch his way out of a driveway on Old South Head Road at Vaucluse on the morning of March 13.

At the time, his view to the right was obstructed by parked cars and he 'continually edged' his vehicle to 'gain a clear view of the oncoming traffic'.

At the same time, a Toyota Kluger was driving along Old South Head Road when the female driver suddenly noticed Smith's vehicle 'appear in front of two parked vehicles and merge into her lane', according to the court documents.

The female driver attempted to brake; however, she collided with the front of Smith's car.

At the same time, a 38-year-old man was on the outside of his parked car and was attempting to get his son out of the rear door.

The man's vehicle was bumped forward, according to the police facts, pushing the wheel onto his right foot and leaving it wedged between the tyre and the kerb.

Smith and the other driver both returned negative results when they were given roadside breath tests.

As a result of his injuries, the man underwent 'many surgeries' and his little toe had to be amputated, according to the police facts.

He also suffered further fractures in his fibular and right foot.

According to court documents, the man continues to see a psychiatrist, physiotherapist and pain specialist for his injuries and may need further surgeries.

Police charged Smith with negligent driving, saying the man's injuries amounted to grievous bodily harm.

[mightyrooster]

news dot com dot au
para;
He has to face Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Dec 13 for sentencing, after his solicitor lodged a guilty plea to the serious driving offence on his behalf in court today.

Yes, he was charged with causing GBH because a pedestrian has lost a toe due to his alleged negligent driving which he has pleaded guilty to. However he was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It’s going to be very interesting to see how the NRL treats this especially in comparison to the Mam incident. Clearly the authorities in QLD don’t deem fracturing a 4 year olds hip as sufficient enough for the stronger charge. The NRL should be looking at it differently though as it’s always harping on about protecting the image of the game. For me, driving unlicensed and on drugs is by far the worst look. So where is the NRL?

[bondi.boy]

news dot com dot au
para;
He has to face Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court on Dec 13 for sentencing, after his solicitor lodged a guilty plea to the serious driving offence on his behalf in court today.

[Crab]

The fact he held a valid licence and was not on drugs may work against him.

He's not the right colour !

[ism22]

Of course there will be a plea deal for entering an early guilty plea which possibly has been negotiated already - plead guilty with mitigating circumstances ( view blocked by a parked truck etc ) - his lawyer an ex Police prosecutor would negotiate with the DPP for less serious charge(s) and possibly withdrawing some of the charges

If media reporting is correct then there's only one charge and he's contesting it under circumstances where it seems plausible that the prosecution's case against could fail.

IMO Ezra's more likely to have reached some sorta plea bargain as he was charged with strict liability offences (drugs in his system + unlicensed) and missed out on GBH. Purely an example here (not suggesting he did any of this) but a deal in that kinda situation would be wiser as it might play out more like 'okay you either plead guilty, we drop the big charge and you check yourself into rehab so that we can feel comfortable you won't re-offend if bailed... OR... you contest, we stack GBH onto the charge sheet, we contest your bail application and the female officer arresting you might decide to lodge a statement about your language/conduct, sir').

Sandon is back in court tomorrow, Nov 15.
Hope all goes well for him.

Agreed, wishing him all the best. Fingers crossed for you Sandon...

[Dr. Voodoo Man]

I can't understand why the cops are trying to prosecute him. Setting him up for a civil suit? He clearly made an honest error and deserves no punishment at all.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

Sandon is back in court tomorrow, Nov 15.
Hope all goes well for him.

The fact he held a valid licence and was not on drugs may work against him.

[bondi.boy]

Sandon is back in court tomorrow, Nov 15.
Hope all goes well for him.

[King Salvo]

Stop watching american TV and go back to farmer wants a wife. The max penalty might be 9 months but that was media sensationalism.
There will be no plea deal or wheeling and dealing. He will go in say sorry and get a fine, a suspension if he is really unlucky

Of course there will be a plea deal for entering an early guilty plea which possibly has been negotiated already - plead guilty with mitigating circumstances ( view blocked by a parked truck etc ) - his lawyer an ex Police prosecutor would negotiate with the DPP for less serious charge(s) and possibly withdrawing some of the charges

[Kelby]

He will publicly say sorry after Rehab.
He will be given a suspended sentence.
The Broncos will fine him $5K
He will do community service with other druggies.

Done.

[Tedley]

It clearly states that prison time is a possible sentence for this conviction.
Whilever that is possible there's no way I'd be pleading guilty.
If a plea deal were wanted by the prosecution, then prison time would have to be removed as a possible sentence, written down in the legal document.

Stop watching american TV and go back to farmer wants a wife. The max penalty might be 9 months but that was media sensationalism.
There will be no plea deal or wheeling and dealing. He will go in say sorry and get a fine, a suspension if he is really unlucky

[QWERTY]

And I hope this turd has played his last NRL game. Suck eggs you disgraceful POS. Looks like Spencer might get the last laugh.

Saw an DT article today basically blaming Spencer for Mam’s downfall. What lowlife journo’s and what a scummy newspaper