A man charged over a fatal crash near Dubbo, who allegedly failed to stop in a police pursuit, has pleaded not guilty to serious driving and drugs offences and has been refused bail.
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Scott Allan Thompson, 34, faced Dubbo Local Court on Wednesday charged with aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death and three related charges.
The Wellington man was also before the court on a charge of supplying prohibited drug methylamphetamine, commonly known as ice, which documents tendered to the court show police allege was found in a bag on him at the time of the crash.
An 18-year-old woman, who was a passenger in the Holden sedan when it crashed at Maryvale between Dubbo and Wellington about 8.15pm on July 15, died at the scene.
Police allege Mr Thompson was detected committing a traffic offence on the Mitchell Highway and that he failed to stop when a pursuit was initiated.
A short time later the car left the roadway and struck a pole.
Mr Thompson held his hand to his back as he entered the court and slowly lowered himself on to the seat in the dock on Wednesday, one day after his arrest.
Pleas of not guilty were entered to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, dangerous driving occasioning death, police pursuit - not stop - drive dangerously and negligent driving occasioning death as well as supplying a prohibited drug and possessing a prohibited drug.
The prosecution opposed Mr Thompson's release, saying he was already on bail from the district court and subject to a good behaviour bond.
There were unacceptable risks of him committing further serious offences and endangering the safety of individuals or the community, the prosecutor submitted.
It was a strong prosecution case and if Mr Thompson was convicted a custodial sentence was likely, the prosecutor said.
The drug charges involved allegations of "20-odd grams" of methylamphetamine, which was well over the indictable amount, he said.
The defence said Mr Thompson had been reporting as required by his district court bail ever since he was discharged from hospital on July 20.
The court heard the accused's parents, partner and other family members were in court to support him and that Mr Thompson was unable to dress himself and that he had limited mobility.
The defence conceded they were show cause matters but submitted cause was shown for why Mr Thompson should be released because of his medical condition.
A document on a local health district letterhead and a discharge summary were tendered by the defence.
The solicitor also said he did not concede it was a strong prosecution case and that the allegations were "speculative".
Magistrate Andrew Eckhold said while there was evidence Mr Thompson had sustained significant injury there was not that he could not be accommodated in custody at that time, and he had been fit to be released from hospital.
Mr Eckhold found on balance there had not been cause shown why the accused's detention was not justified and that he was an unacceptable risk of committing a serious offence and endangering the safety of individuals or the community.
Mr Thompson was remanded in custody to face court again on September 30.