Natasha Rudra June 16, 2012
The Kambah man accused of a horrific crash that left one woman dead outside Canberra Hospital has appeared in court for the second time.
Relatives of his victims were in the public gallery and wept as Justin Monfries, 24, was brought into the ACT Magistrates Court.
Monfries was allegedly behind the wheel of a stolen car and fleeing from police when he ran a red light and mowed down two hospital employees outside the hospital in early May.
Senior cardiac technician Linda Cox was killed and her co-worker Ashlee Bumpus was seriously injured.
Yesterday the court heard that the prosecution's brief of evidence was nearly finished and investigators had completed a reconstruction of the accident.
Prosecutor Travis Jackson sought a three- to four-week adjournment to allow the defence to read through the brief.
The man faces charges of manslaughter, culpable driving, stealing a car, failing to stop and give assistance and failing to give particulars after a crash.
Monfries had been given bail on unrelated charges just weeks before the fatal hit-and-run accident.
Police allege he had crashed into a car in Hughes on the afternoon of the incident and fled the scene. They say he then tried to evade police on Yamba Drive before striking the two women as they crossed the road.
Monfries allegedly fled again and had a third crash on Hindmarsh Drive which left him with minor injuries.
The court heard Monfries also faced domestic violence charges for assaulting his partner and possessing a machete.
He was due to appear in court for a trial in August to answer the charges.
Monfries did not apply for bail and will appear in court next month.
Magistrate Peter Dingwall remanded the man in custody and marked him a prisoner at risk.