‘Not my car': Driver's act after fatal hit

Perth Now

3 days ago

A former elite private school graduate whose 'reprehensible' driving killed a beloved grandmother in a horrific crash made a bizarre statement to witnesses before fleeing to hide in a muddy drain.
Andrew Julian Stewart-Smith, 29, was behind the wheel of a Holden Commodore when he killed Yrsa Christoffersen, 72, after ploughing into her Suzuki Swift in Kippa Ring, north of Brisbane, in September 2023.
Devastated members of the Christoffersen family packed out Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday as Stewart-Smith – a former graduate of the elite Nudgee College in Boondall – learnt his fate.
In a heartbreaking statement, Ms Christoffersen's daughter Maria remembered her mother as the 'kindest person' she had ever known and the morning of her death was meant to be a normal morning 'like any other'. Andrew Julian Stewart-Smith caused a horrific car crash that killed Yrsa Christoffersen and seriously injured her daughter, Maria. 7News Credit: Supplied
'The next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital bed, feeling pain like I had never known,' she said.
'I remember asking where my mum was, and they wouldn't tell me.
'The way they looked at me though, I knew. I could see it on their faces.'
Maria said she felt like her 'world had been shattered' upon learning her mother had died.
The court was told her recovery in hospital was difficult and she was left unable to chew food for weeks due to her fractured jaw.
'I still feel the effects today, some days I can't move the way I used to,' Maria said.
'Mum's death was sudden, violent and unexpected.
'I will always miss her. I'm trying to move forward, but it's hard. It's a daily struggle.'
She questioned whether Stewart-Smith would ever take responsibility for his actions or continue to cause 'more pain' – to which the 29-year-old did not react. Stewart-Smith (centre) was reaching speeds of up to 114km/h when he struck Ms Christoffersen's Suzuki Swift in Kippa Ring. 7News Credit: Supplied
The court was told Stewart-Smith was seen driving erratically – at times swerving between cars and failing to give way – while reaching speeds of more than 100km/h on the morning of September 22, 2023.
At one point, he pulled over on the side of the road and stole number plates to attach to the Holden.
Ms Christoffersen was driving her daughter Maria to work and turning at the intersection of Anzac Ave and Oleander St in Kippa Ring.
Crown prosecutor Jordan Daniels said Stewart-Smith braked but collided with the Suzuki at up to 114km/h, throwing it into the air.
He fled the scene while telling bystanders: 'You don't understand, it's not my car.'
Ms Christoffersen was declared deceased at the scene, while Maria was taken to hospital with serious injuries.
Police located Stewart-Smith several hours later in a storm drain, covered in mud in a bid to conceal himself. After fleeing the scene, police tracked the 29-year-old to a storm drain, where he had covered himself in mud in a bid to conceal himself. Queensland Police Credit: Supplied
When searched, police located clip-seal bags containing methylamphetamine and texts on his phone indicating he supplied the drugs a week before.
More than 300 animated child exploitation images were also found on his phone.
The court was told Maria would have been left with lifelong issues with her jaw – which left her unable to properly eat for weeks – without surgery.
Justice Tom Sullivan said Stewart-Smith's conduct was 'reprehensible' and made worse by his traffic history, which was littered with speeding offences.
Stewart-Smith pleaded guilty in March to charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and grievous bodily harm while excessively speeding and leaving the scene of a crash without obtaining help, supplying and possessing dangerous drugs and possessing child exploitation material. Stewart-Smith pleaded guilty earlier this year to a raft of charges, including dangerous driving causing death and grievous bodily harm. Queensland Police Credit: Supplied
He also pleaded guilty to other charges of stealing, unlawful use of motor vehicles and failing to remain at the scene of an incident and render assistance as a driver.
Stewart-Smith expressed remorse to the family in a letter and was experiencing 'nightmares' of what happened that day while in custody.
Defence barrister Angus Edwards said his client had 'tried to make amends' through courses, isolating himself from anti-social prisoners
'He is ashamed of what he did that day,' Mr Edwards said.
'He wasn't out to hurt anybody that day, but he did.
'He's out to change.'
The court was told Stewart-Smith had developed a drug problem after his substance use as a teenager.
Mr Edwards explained his client was drug-affected when he downloaded the images subject to the child exploitation material charge.
Justice Sullivan will sentence Stewart-Smith later in the afternoon.