ANDREW Norman Forbes was more than five times over the blood alcohol limit when he crashed his car at Morisset in November, 2017.
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Three days later, his 74-year-old father, Norman Forbes, who was a passenger in the car, died in hospital.
Andrew Forbes, 40, had pleaded not guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death and was this week due to face a trial in Newcastle District Court focusing on his father's cause of death.
But on Monday, on what was expected to be the first day of the trial, Andrew Forbes was re-arraigned and pleaded guilty to aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death.
Judge Roy Ellis agreed to continue Andrew Forbes' bail until he is sentenced in Newcastle District Court in February next year.
Norman Forbes 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.
Andrew Forbes was uninjured in the crash, but was breath-tested and returned a reading of 0.253.
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 was also charged with high-range drink driving and dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, an alternative charge that was withdrawn after Andrew Forbes pleaded guilty to the more serious offence on Monday.
