‘Like being naked in public': Killer driver blames lack of turban for failure to help dying woman
A driver who has pleaded guilty to killing a woman in Adelaide's north-east when his Mustang crashed into her Commodore at high speed has given his reason as to why he didn't help her.
Bhupinder Singh, 25, blamed his turban for not helping Christine Sandford,40, after his car hit hers about 10pm on North East Rd, Windsor Gardens in March 2023.
Singh's lawyer told the Adelaide District Court on Wednesday that he didn't help Sandford as his turban came off in the crash, which as a Sikh man was likened to being 'naked in public'.
The lawyer told the court that his client may have been in shock after losing his turban.
'My client's turban had flown off his head,' his lawyer said.
'He was in a state of shock, as a Sikh, where it's almost like being naked in public; that exacerbated the situation.'
Sandford died only minutes from her home while out on a simple errand to buy oil to cook dinner.
Her car was T-boned at high speed by Singh's Mustang when she was leaving a nearby petrol station.
Victim impact statements were also heard on Wednesday. Sandford's daughter, Taniesha, described the loss of her mother.
'The weight of her absence is something I struggle to carry every day,' she said. 'I used to feel safe, I am constantly filled with anxiety now that I live with the deep awareness that the people you love can be taken from you in an instant.
Judge Paul Muscat said Singh had been driving at speeds between 150 and 161km/h in the moments leading up to the crash.
He also told Singh that lying to police after the crash, telling them that he wasn't speeding 'cannot be true, obviously', and that he will likely be remanded in custody next week.
Singh has pleaded guilty to aggravated causing death by dangerous driving.
He will return to court next week for further submissions ahead of sentencing.
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