An 18-year-old driver who ran over and killed and Catholic priest has said: ‘I wish I could have taken my own life but I ended up taking his.’
P-plate driver Peter Radinovic mounted a footpath and killed Father Peter Neville on his evening walk in Cecil Hills, Sydney last month.
Today he spoke to reporters outside court in Sydney after his hearing was adjourned.
Nervous and speaking quickly, he said: ‘I just wanna apologise to the Neville family for what I’ve done.
P-plate driver Peter Radinovic (pictured outside court today) last mounted a footpath and killed Father Peter Neville on his evening walk in Cecil Hills, Sydney last month
Asked by 7 News how he was doing, he said ‘not good. I haven’t left the house since.’
The teenager added: ‘What happened happened, I can’t change it. I wish I could but I can’t.’
Father Neville, 80, died on the way to Liverpool Hospital while Radinovic, who was driving a red Corolla hatchback, and his female passenger were both uninjured.
P-plate driver Peter Radinovic last mounted a footpath and killed Father Peter Neville (pictured) on his evening walk in Cecil Hills, Sydney last month
The teenager was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death and negligent driving occasioning death.
He appeared at Liverpool Local Court today but did not enter a plea and the hearing was adjourned.
Ordained in 1962, Father Neville’s first appointment as assistant priest at East Granville.
He then served at Camperdown, Balgowlah, Ashbury, Lane Cove, Enfield, Dulwich Hill and Pymble.
His first appointment as a parish priest was at Bossley Park in 1980 and Georges Hall from 1995 until his retirement to lesser duties in 2007.
Father Peter Neville was on his evening walk on Sunday night in Cecil Hills when a Corolla hatchback mounted the footpath and hit the 80-year-old
‘We extend our prayers and our deep sympathy to members of Father Neville’s family,’ Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney said in a statement on its website.
‘We also offer our prayers to the young man involved in the incident, and his family, at this difficult time.’
Floral tributes were laid at the crash site while, online, the local community is mourning the death of the religious leader.
‘He was the priest I knew and respected growing up,’ one person said.
‘You will be missed by many and never forgotten,’ another said. ‘Love you – always and forever.’
Former parishioner Megan Ilacqua told 9 News her friend had been loved by ‘many, many people’.
‘He was a gentleman – intelligent, loving, caring,’ she said.
‘He dedicated his life to the church and the parish.’
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