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http://www.bendigoadvertiser.com.au/new ... 54642.aspx

Cop acquitted of Woodend road death

AN off-duty police officer who killed a Woodend motorcyclist in an early-morning crash two years ago has been acquitted.
Peta Carbonneau, a Victoria Police officer for almost 10 years, left the Bendigo County Court, sitting in Ballarat, a free woman yesterday after the jury found her not guilty of dangerous driving causing death.
The 35-year-old senior constable was charged over the death of 31-year-old Woodend man Luke Wilson on April 20, 2009.
The court was told that Carbonneau, also of Woodend, crossed double white lines while performing a U-turn in fog when she hit the motorcyclist travelling south along Black Forrest Drive. Mr Wilson died at the scene.
During a committal hearing in the Bendigo Magistrates Court last October, John Beesley, who was first at the scene, told the court he had driven along Black Forrest Drive almost every day for the past 10 years.
He said the road was notorious for its fluctuating weather conditions and that on the morning of the accident it was the foggiest he had seen all year.
Carbonneau, a senior constable at Sunbury, was on her way to work when she realised she had forgotten a batch of cup cakes at home and decided to turn around to get them.
The magistrates court was told that she believed she had sufficient time to perform the U-turn and was shocked when she heard an object hit her car.
Senior Constable Glen Urquhart, of the major collision investigation unit, said the motorcyclist was travelling at 80 to 97km/h before the collision.
Neither Carbonneau nor the rider were affected by drugs or alcohol at the time.
Black Forest Drive has a speed limit of 90km/h where the accident occurred.

Fark me.

WRONG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i reckon i would be in trouble if this happened to me.

poor prick on bike

Justice?

Farkin bullshit

dilligaf wrote:......crossed double white lines while performing a U-turn in fog when she hit the motorcyclist travelling south along Black Forrest Drive. Mr Wilson died at the scene....

WTF...Just wrong...illegal turn results in a death. If it was a biker he/she would have the book thrown at them.

i thought i could do 80 in a school zone as well... fuck me for a joke...

I remember that happening and said "she'll get off"
That's just fucken bullshit, if we made a turn in conditions like,
it would have been "you don't turn if you can't see properly" and we would have had the
book thrown at us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A coppa here kicked a 4 yr old girl and knocked her mum out because the little girl had touched his car at a pedestrian crossing
They've been stuffin her around for months and the prick hasn't been charged yet....

Cmon Guys !! There was Cup Cakes involved ffs . Perfectly reasonable to do a Uwie over double lines in heavy fog . And KILL some poor unsuspecting law abiding citizen .

And the same judicial system will happily tell you what a waste of space you are for exceeding the speed limit in a situation that endangers no-one .

Makes you sick

The comments made on line to the Bendigo Advertiser only add to my disgust . A point well made by "bullfrog"

"At the end of the day someone died from a very irresponsible and selfish manner and to plead not guilty is a kick in the face then to get off the charge is disgusting for the bike rider who died. it sets a very bad example that you do the wrong thing and kill someone and get off it no wonder the younger generation don't give a hoot
And to be a policewomen you should know better not to do this that has tragically taken a very very well respectable person."

makes you lose all respect for the law.
Oh that's right lost that 30yrs ago
Fu?+king cops

FMD thats a pretty poor result

Embarrassed to live in this fucking state sometimes. We can do some things so well, but our boys and girls in blue are often incompetent and frequently untouchable. Surprised she didn't go back and shoot the poor bastard for getting between her and her cupcakes. "Travelling at 80 - 97kph". Convenient that when the cops are at fault they can't pin the speed down to less than 25%.

The acquittal is evidence of the fact that there is a deep seated negative bias against motorbike riders. More often than not the rider is judged to have erred or broken the law.

Very disappointing result. My thoughts with the family of the rider. Life is unfair.

My understanding is she still has a charge or two to be heard, not sure what else but yes, that's bullshit if ever i've read bullshit!! Unfortunately, not inconsistent wtih other penalties received by drivers for killing riders in this state, do 83 in an 80 zone and rest assured, we'll catch you before someone gets hurt, unless of course you're a copper, then you can hang a u turn over double lines whilst hanging your arse out the window and drinking a bottle of scotch, then it was a simple mistake..

Do know for a fact that the riders family are trying to obtain a court transcript and I hazard a guess they will appeal the not guilty verdict as that's just plain WRONG big time!!

I'll keep this thread updated as I hear more.