A young Cairns woman has been killed in a head-on collision allegedly caused by a man driving a stolen vehicle, sparking fresh anger over the state’s bail laws.
Police have charged a 36-year-old man with manslaughter.
Woman killed in alleged stolen car crash
(Source: 7NEWS)
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A young Cairns woman has been killed in a head-on collision allegedly caused by a man driving a stolen vehicle, sparking fresh anger over the state’s bail laws.
Savannah Spence, 25, died when an allegedly stolen Land Cruiser crashed into her RAV4 on the Smithfield Bypass.
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Police have charged 36-year-old Jake Edward Warn with manslaughter, stealing and showing callous disregard for an injured person.
After the crash, Warn allegedly fled the wreckage and carjacked a 71-year-old man, forcing him to drive away from the scene.
“Saw a four-wheel drive come up Reservoir Rd, great speeds,” witness Steve Thompson said.
“Woke up from all the noise, police and ambulance out the front,” witness Jimmy Marou said.
Warn was arrested north-west of the CBD and is now in hospital under police guard. He was allegedly under the influence at the time of the crash.
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7NEWS can reveal Warn was released on bail in April by a Supreme Court judge to receive cancer treatment.
He was refused bail when he appeared before a magistrate on Thursday.
The tragedy has reignited community frustration over repeat offenders being granted bail, with locals expressing their anger at the pace of law reform.
“The whole community is just… their heart’s been ripped out of them,” Cairns Regional Council Deputy Mayor Brett Olds said.
Attorney-general Deb Frecklington defended her government’s efforts to overhaul bail laws.
“This is a tragedy and my heart goes out to the victim’s family,” she said.
“I know the people of Cairns are hurting. I know the people of Cairns are frustrated, as am I. I would love for things to turn around faster,” Barron River MP Bree James said.
But frustrated locals say promises aren’t enough.
“He’s promised and he’s promised and he’s promised, but he ain’t bloody delivered. He works for us,” Thompson said.
“The state government need to step up here. They were elected in on this issue, on crime,” Olds said.
