A MAN accused of causing the death of his father in a crash at Morisset last year will face a trial in Newcastle District Court.
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Andrew Norman Forbes, 40, of Dora Creek, appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday where he was committed for trial on charges of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, aggravated dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm and high-range drink driving.
Andrew Forbes’s solicitor, Steffany Sneesby, said her client had indicated he would plead guilty to the latter offence, which she noted was a back-up charge.
The issue at trial appears to be the cause of death of Mr Forbes’ 74-year-old father, Norman Forbes, who died in hospital on November 11, 2017, three days after he was a passenger in a Toyota HiLux that lost control and collided with a BMW on Marconi Road, Morisset about 7.10am.
During a court appearance last month, solicitor Kate Maher had asked for the matter to be adjourned so the defence could obtain a report and issues surrounding cause of death could be determined.
Andrew Forbes was uninjured in the crash, but was breath-tested and allegedly returned a reading of 0.253 - more than five times the legal blood alcohol limit.
Due to the level of intoxication, Andrew Forbes was then charged with aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death, which carries a maximum of 14 years in jail.
He will appear in Newcastle District Court on December 6 for arraignment, where he will formally enter pleas and get a trial date either in late 2019 or early 2020.