A mother of eight driving a bus that mounted a kerb outside a Sydney school, killing a 14-year-old boy, has been granted bail.
Penina Lopesi, 54, appeared before Liverpool Local Court on Thursday, a day after the fatal accident near the chapel at Macarthur Anglican School in southwestern Cobbitty.
Taken to Liverpool Hospital in critical condition, the boy died a short time later.
Supported by her husband and children, who filled the courtroom, Lopesi was granted bail, provided she surrender her passport and refrain from going within 5 km of the school.
She was also barred from getting behind the wheel of any vehicle and had to report to the police three times a week.
These conditions, as well as her strong family support, mitigated concerns by police prosecutors that she would fail to attend court in future and remained a risk to the community, Magistrate Peter Thompson said.
Outside court, Lopesi’s lawyer Mostafa Daoudie said his client had been impacted by the tragedy and requested her privacy.
“There are no winners in these types of cases. It’s a very unfortunate event,” he said.
Lopesi walked between waiting reporters after being released with a white blanket over her head, surrounded by family as she made her way towards a waiting vehicle.
On the day of the incident, she was taken to Liverpool Police Station for mandatory testing and later charged. Her licence was also suspended.
She faces one count of dangerous driving occasioning death and another of negligent driving occasioning death.
“I accept at this stage there is no explanation for the conduct, and there is nothing to suggest there was a medical issue or any fault of the vehicle,” Thompson said in granting bail.
Lopesi remained still for some period after the accident in “some kind of shock”, prosecutors told the court.
Investigations into her health or any engineering issues with the bus continue.
On Thursday, Macarthur Anglican School headmaster Dr. David Nockles said the vehicle had lost control as it exited the bus bay, mounted the kerb and struck the boy who was in Year 9.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy’s family, including his brother in Year 11, as they deal with unimaginable grief and heartache,” Knockles said.
“The school appreciates the tangible support for our school community as we work through this terrible shock and loss to the wider Macarthur family.”
Outside counsellors have been brought in from other Christian schools, Anglicare, the police and the ambulance service to assist students and staff alongside the school’s pastoral care team.
The matter will next come before Campbelltown Local Court on April 12.
