The grieving daughter of a man who died in a horrific crash in South Australia last year has launched a blistering attack on the drunk and speeding driver responsible for his death.
Campbell Henderson, 29, appeared in court on Thursday after pleading guilty to causing the crash on Easter Monday 2021 that killed his friend and 39-year-old passenger Nick Peart.
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The crash occurred just meters from the houses of both men, who were neighbors as well as friends.
Peart’s high school sweetheart and wife Elaine Revi-Peart told the court in a victim impact statement that more than a year after losing her partner: “I get chest pains which I can only describe as heartache.”
Henderson was driving almost 40km over the speed limit when he lost control around a bend in Brukunga and crashed into a large tree.
Witnesses reported seeing his distinctive yellow ute doing burnouts earlier that night.
His eldest daughter, 14, also made a scathing statement to the man who was once like an uncle to her: “I hate you, I want to see you leave in cuffs and prison clothes, you have ruined my life.”
“Without my dad, it is hell.”
Henderson was teary-eyed in court and remorseful as he admitted in court that his driving was “dangerous and irresponsible.”
“If there was any way I could trade places with Nick I would, I’ll never forgive myself.”
He pleaded guilty to causing the fatal crash.
The court heard Henderson had no criminal history and has suffered ongoing mental and physical health problems as a result of the accident he has little memory of.
It heard that the last thing Henderson remembers is being in the car, before waking up in hospital, after which he has experienced PTSD and suicidal tendencies.
His lawyer asked for a home detention report to be ordered, which Judge Joana Fuller said she would consider but did not order on Thursday.
Henderson was granted bail last year and has spent just hours in police custody.
He is South African-born but has been living in Australia since he was 10 years old, and is currently in the country on his mother’s UK passport.
He is set to be sentenced next month.
Revi-Peart said her neighbor “chose to drive that day”, and that her husband “paid the ultimate price for trusting a friend”.
Peart’s mother said her son’s death was a shocking and senseless tragedy.
The last year has been tough for the family, who aside from losing Peart, have had to find a new house following extensive water damage to their home, while also caring for their daughter Kayley who lives with the health condition Neurofibromatosis type 1.
The family fundraised over $30,000 after the accident to go towards legal costs, and to support the family grieving the loss of their sole wage earner.
Daughter’s blistering attack to her father’s friend after dad’s death.
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