Latest news with #JoshuaAlexanderScott
ABC News
4 days ago
- ABC News
Driver who killed pedestrian in hit and run and tried to cover it up sentenced to jail
A man who killed a pedestrian in Brisbane last year while he was "daydreaming" has been sentenced to five years in jail. In the District Court in Brisbane on Friday, Joshua Alexander Scott, who torched his car in an attempt to hide evidence of the hit and run, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death as well as arson of a motor vehicle. During a sentencing hearing, the court heard the then 35-year-old had been driving to work just after 5am in Chermside when he ran a red light in March 2024. The court heard Ian Victor Colwell, 72, had been on his regular morning walk when he was struck by Scott as he crossed that intersection. After briefly stopping his car and making eye contact with a witness, Scott then sped away, leaving Mr Colwell face down on the road with significant injuries including a bleeding and cracked skull. Bystanders called triple-zero, and Mr Colwell was rushed to hospital, but he suffered a fatal cardiac arrest in the ambulance. In the meantime, the court heard Scott drove to a friend's house, and told them what he had done, before changing his clothes. He then called his partner and told her to wipe CCTV footage of him leaving their home in the car that morning, and to delete messages between them. Scott then drove to Wavell Heights where he poured accelerant through the car and set it alight, before heading to work. Crown prosecutor Cameron Wilkins told the court Scott had concocted a story that the car had been stolen and tried to set up an alibi with his boss, in a bid to avoid detection. Mr Wilkins told the court Scott was arrested at his workplace later that morning and initially lied to police, but later confessed, telling them he was "daydreaming" when he hit Mr Colwell. "His conscience got the best of him," he said. The court heard Scott had a lengthy criminal history and had been on a suspended sentence for drug-related charges at the time of the collision. He also had dozens of convictions for driving offences, including 29 for speeding and multiple for drunk and drug-affected driving. "The defendant's traffic history is deplorable," Mr Wilkins said. Reading a victim impact statement on behalf of their family, Mr Colwell's nephew Damian Colwell told the court the "sudden and senseless and violent" death had left them "broken". "Not just the fact he died … but the way his life was cruelly and needlessly taken from us," he said. "Our family gatherings will forever feel incomplete." Mr Colwell said they struggled to comprehend how "such indifference" to human life could exist in the community. "He was struck down without care or compassion and left alone in his final moments," he said. He described Mr Colwell as an "active and generous member of his community". "His leadership and care cannot easily be replaced," he said. The court heard Scott had provided a letter of apology and his parents, who were there to support him, also submitted a letter of reference for their son. When determining his sentence Judge John Allen KC acknowledged the family's heartbreak and accepted the offending had caused "enormous loss and harm". Scott was handed a head sentence of five years and, with time already served, will be eligible to apply for parole in November. He was also disqualified from driving.
News.com.au
4 days ago
- News.com.au
‘Shattered': Devastated family of Ian Colwell stare down driver who mowed down ex-principal, veteran before trying to cover tracks
A tradie who mowed down a former school principal and war veteran on his morning walk in a fatal hit-and-run devised a plan to make it seem like his car had been stolen, before torching the vehicle and wiping texts and CCTV. Joshua Alexander Scott wiped away tears as he came face-to-face with the family of Ian Colwell during his sentencing at Brisbane District Court on Friday for the 'callous' act in March 2024. In a chilling twist, the court heard Scott knew he had hit the elderly pedestrian and still drove off after making panicked eye contact with a witness. From there, he concocted a plan to cover his tracks by reporting the car as stolen – torching it in a nearby suburb and lying to his workplace about having a fight with his girlfriend. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Colwell's nephew Damien said their entire family felt the trauma from the sudden and violent loss of Ian, which had left them 'shattered'. 'The trauma of knowing he was struck down without care or compassion, and left alone in his final moments, has left us struggling to comprehend how such indifference could exist in another human being,' Damien said. 'His church community, his RSL family … have also suffered the loss of a friend and a mentor,' Damien said. 'He was a guiding presence for veterans and parishioners alike, someone they could turn to for advice, support and companionship.' 'For me, Ian's absence has created a deep sense of loss. His leadership and care cannot be easily replaced.' The court was told Ian's absence had created a 'void' – leaving family gatherings 'forever incomplete' without his wisdom, humour and 'steady hand'. 'His death has left us broken, and our lives forever changed,' Damien said. 'We have lost the joy and comfort he brought to countless lives.' Scott, 39, pleaded guilty to arson and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and leaving the scene. Brisbane District Court was told Mr Colwell, 72, was on his morning walk when he crossed the intersection of Kittyhawk Dr and Murphy Rd in the Brisbane suburb of Chermside, on the morning of March 21, 2024. Scott admitted to police he was 'daydreaming', 'just cruising' and not paying attention to his speed when he turned into Kittyhawk Dr, against a red light. The vehicle collided with Mr Colwell, leaving him with serious injuries. Scott stopped his car 15m down the road and saw Mr Colwell lying facedown on the road, crown prosecutor Cameron Wilkins said. 'He made eye contact with a witness before speeding off … down Kittyhawk Dr, ran another red light, and drove off,' Mr Wilkins said. It is not suggested he hit Mr Colewell deliberately. Bystanders attempted to help the grievously injured Mr Colwell before he was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. The court was told he suffered traumatic cardiac arrest while en route in the ambulance and was declared deceased. Mr Wilkins said Scott then drove to a friend's home in Wavell Heights and devised a plan to report his car as stolen. He changed clothes and asked his girlfriend to delete CCTV footage capturing his car's movements, along with texts between them. Afterwards, Scott drove the car to another location, doused the driver's seat in mineral turpentine and set it alight. When he went to work later that day, Scott lied to his boss about getting into a fight with his girlfriend and having his car stolen. But when police arrested him, he broke down and made admissions over the hit-and-run. The court was told Scott's 'deplorable' traffic history included 29 convictions for speeding. Others ranged from unlicensed and unregistered driving, driving while using a mobile phone, failing to stop while being pursued by police and two convictions for drink driving – one where he registered a BAC of .09. At the time of the hit-and-run, Scott was five-and-a-half months into an unrelated suspended jail term. In imposing a head sentence of five years' jail, District Court Judge John Allen said the loss of Mr Colwell's life had caused 'enormous loss' to his family. He noted Scott's remorse was not complete after the incident as he took steps to avoid his apprehension and 'self-pitying' statements to his boss. 'I accept that as time has gone on and you've reflected further on your behaviour, that you have become truly remorseful for what you did,' Judge Allen continued. During his time in prison Scott had worked as a cleaner and completed a substance intervention course while on the waiting list for further courses, defence barrister Colin Reid said. He had also written a letter of apology for his actions. With his time in pre-sentence custody already served, Scott will be eligible for parole in November this year.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Tradie's callous act after fatal hit-run
A tradie who mowed down a former school principal and war veteran on his morning walk in a fatal hit-and-run devised a plan to make it seem like his car had been stolen, before torching the vehicle and wiping texts and CCTV. Joshua Alexander Scott wiped away tears as he came face-to-face with the family of Ian Colwell during his sentencing at Brisbane District Court on Friday for the 'callous' act in March 2024. In a chilling twist, the court heard Scott knew he had hit the elderly pedestrian and still drove off after making panicked eye contact with a witness. From there, he concocted a plan to cover his tracks by reporting the car as stolen – torching it in a nearby suburb and lying to his workplace about having a fight with his girlfriend. In a victim impact statement read to the court, Mr Colwell's nephew Damien said their entire family felt the trauma from the sudden and violent loss of Ian, which had left them 'shattered'. 'The trauma of knowing he was struck down without care or compassion, and left alone in his final moments, has left us struggling to comprehend how such indifference could exist in another human being,' Damien said. 'His church community, his RSL family … have also suffered the loss of a friend and a mentor,' Damien said. 'He was a guiding presence for veterans and parishioners alike, someone they could turn to for advice, support and companionship.' 'For me, Ian's absence has created a deep sense of loss. His leadership and care cannot be easily replaced.' The court was told Ian's absence had created a 'void' – leaving family gatherings 'forever incomplete' without his wisdom, humour and 'steady hand'. 'His death has left us broken, and our lives forever changed,' Damien said. 'We have lost the joy and comfort he brought to countless lives.' Scott, 39, pleaded guilty to arson and dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and leaving the scene. Brisbane District Court was told Mr Colwell, 72, was on his morning walk when he crossed the intersection of Kittyhawk Dr and Murphy Rd in the Brisbane suburb of Chermside, on the morning of March 21, 2024. Scott admitted to police he was 'daydreaming', 'just cruising' and not paying attention to his speed when he turned into Kittyhawk Dr, against a red light. The vehicle collided with Mr Colwell, leaving him with serious injuries. Scott stopped his car 15m down the road and saw Mr Colwell lying facedown on the road, crown prosecutor Cameron Wilkins said. 'He made eye contact with a witness before speeding off … down Kittyhawk Dr, ran another red light, and drove off,' Mr Wilkins said. It is not suggested he hit Mr Colewell deliberately. Bystanders attempted to help the grievously injured Mr Colwell before he was taken to Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital. The court was told he suffered traumatic cardiac arrest while en route in the ambulance and was declared deceased. Mr Wilkins said Scott then drove to a friend's home in Wavell Heights and devised a plan to report his car as stolen. He changed clothes and asked his girlfriend to delete CCTV footage capturing his car's movements, along with texts between them. Afterwards, Scott drove the car to another location, doused the driver's seat in mineral turpentine and set it alight. When he went to work later that day, Scott lied to his boss about getting into a fight with his girlfriend and having his car stolen. But when police arrested him, he broke down and made admissions over the hit-and-run. The court was told Scott's 'deplorable' traffic history included 29 convictions for speeding. Others ranged from unlicensed and unregistered driving, driving while using a mobile phone, failing to stop while being pursued by police and two convictions for drink driving – one where he registered a BAC of .09. At the time of the hit-and-run, Scott was five-and-a-half months into an unrelated suspended jail term. In imposing a head sentence of five years' jail, District Court Judge John Allen said the loss of Mr Colwell's life had caused 'enormous loss' to his family. He noted Scott's remorse was not complete after the incident as he took steps to avoid his apprehension and 'self-pitying' statements to his boss. 'I accept that as time has gone on and you've reflected further on your behaviour, that you have become truly remorseful for what you did,' Judge Allen continued. During his time in prison Scott had worked as a cleaner and completed a substance intervention course while on the waiting list for further courses, defence barrister Colin Reid said. He had also written a letter of apology for his actions. With his time in pre-sentence custody already served, Scott will be eligible for parole in November this year.
