Herald Sun: Hit-and-run trial was fair: lawyer
THE Adelaide lawyer fined rather than jailed over a fatal hit-and-run accident had had an impeccably fair trial, his defence counsel said today. The South Australian District Court yesterday fined Eugene McGee $3100 for failing to stop after an accident and driving without due care following the crash in which a cyclist died. He was earlier found not guilty by a jury of the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Today, defence counsel Grant Algie, said McGee had been given an impeccably fair trial.

“There was a jury of 12 who presided over the deliberations in this case,” he said on ABC Radio. “They heard every word of evidence that was presented in that courtroom. “They went on a view, they saw the scene, they deliberated, they were careful, thoughtful and thorough in their task and they reached a verdict that was not only open (to them) but arguably entirely proper on the evidence.” Mr Algie also took a swipe today at South Australian Premier Mike Rann who yesterday described McGee’s actions in leaving the crash scene as “the worst form of cowardice”.

“I want to know whether or not McGee has at any stage … expressed any sympathy to the family or regret for his behaviour and its tragic consequences,” the premier said. Mr Algie today said the community should be concerned over the premier’s comments. “We have a premier of this state mocking the findings of the chief judge … calling my client Eugene McGee a coward, (having) nothing but contempt for him,” he said. “Is that not of concern? Is that not a more important issue about which we should be spending a little time?”

McGee, 50, a former police officer, said he wasn’t affected by wine he drank at a lunch in the Barossa Valley when he drove his four-wheel drive and collided with cyclist and father of two Ian Humphrey on November 30, 2003. In sentencing yesterday, District Court Chief Judge Terry Worthington gave McGee a $2300 fine for the failing to stop and render assistance conviction and an $800 fine for driving without due care. McGee’s driving licence was suspended for 12 months on each charge, but Judge Worthington said the licence disqualifications would be served concurrently.