Man faces Queensland court over death of bride in buggy rollover

ABC NEWS (Australia)

A trial is underway in north Queensland for a Sydney man charged over the death of his bride in a golf buggy rollover. The pair had only been married for 10 days when the buggy flipped on Hamilton Island.

Transcript

00:00After eight years together, Robbie Aywood and Marina Hannah tied the knot in a lavish

00:06dream wedding.

00:08The Sydney couple was on their Hamilton Island honeymoon when the buggy the groom was driving

00:12tipped, killing his bride.

00:15Robbie Aywood was supported by family and friends during an emotional first day of his

00:19trial in the Possipine Magistrates Court.

00:22He pleaded not guilty to one count of driving without due care and attention causing death

00:28and guilty to three other charges including not wearing a seatbelt and using a mobile

00:33phone while driving.

00:35But the defence argued Mr Aywood was not using his phone at the time of the crash.

00:40Lawyer Philip Bolton said there was an electrical issue with the buggy's battery causing it

00:45to slow, which is why Mr Aywood had performed the U-turn which resulted in the buggy rolling

00:50which killed his wife.

00:52He told the court he had to put his foot flat on the accelerator.

00:57During the course of the turn, the vehicle commenced to accelerate totally unexpectedly

01:01to Mr Aywood.

01:02It fell over and killed his poor wife and he was devastated and still is.

01:08Police Prosecutor Sergeant Lyndon Pollard told the court the buggy flipped because of

01:12the angle of the road and an incorrect U-turn.

01:16The court was shown police body-worn footage of Mr Aywood being questioned after the crash

01:21where he was visibly distraught and in disbelief over Miss Hannah's death.

01:26While watching on in the courtroom, Mr Aywood appeared visibly upset and clutched his rosary

01:30beads.

01:32While giving evidence this afternoon, Mr Aywood told the court he didn't know if he would

01:36have driven any differently in hindsight.

01:39The trial continues tomorrow.

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