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Subscriber only The broken mother of a Tafe student killed when he was flung from his seat when a Whitsunday Transit bus violently rolled could only identify her son from a tattoo on his right arm. His face was unrecognisable, Nikki Brown told Mackay Coroners Court as the inquest into her son s death wrapped up on Wednesday. I stayed with my son and used towels to soak up the blood flowing from his ears due to his head injuries for hours. My family will be forever broken. Shae Stinson and Nikki Brown, Casey Stinson-Brown s sister and mother outside court after the coronial inquest into the 19 year old s death.
The 19 year old had finished his studies at Tafe in Cannonvale when he jumped on the bus travelling from Airlie Beach to Proserpine on February 16, 2016. He had been one of 10 passengers aboard when the route bus, driven by experienced driver Alan Dorman, left the road about 1pm for reasons still to be determined and rolled. Fatal bus crash at Cannon Valley near Airlie Beach. The teen suffered traumatic head injuries and was comatose but alive when paramedics arrived. Tragically he could not be revived and died. Two others also suffered serious injuries, which included a traumatic hand amputation. Seven months later, in September 2016, police charged the 70-year-old Mr Dorman with dangerous driving causing death, but he died before the case was finalised.
When the case was first mentioned in early August last year, Mackay Magistrates Court ordered a brief of evidence be completed by early October. Steven Hayles, of Macrossan and Amiet Solicitors, said he had now received the brief of evidence albeit one outstanding statement . Police prosecutor Sergeant Sabine Scott told the court the brief in so far as I m aware is complete . Sgt Scott said there had been some discussion about another specialist providing a statement but believed a different specialist had provided that same statement . Six-month-old Beau Frank Bradshaw was found unresponsive at an East Mackay home in June 2020.
Mr McLennan said Barrett began using ice with an unemployed peer group after he had lost his job “and essentially he’s been off the rails since then”.
When Mr McLennan said Barrett would be able to live with and be supported by his parents at Grasstree Beach, Judge Vicki Loury pointed out he had family support when he committed these crimes.
Judge Loury described Barrett’s upbringing as privileged and said he had a criminal history.
“It seems to be that you are in clear need of supervision,” Judge Loury said, later telling the young father he needed to grow up and be a role model for his child.