A Perth teenager facing possible jail time has apologised for the crash that killed two of his friends.
19-year-old Joel Payne pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death at the Rockingham Magistrates Court on Tuesday, following a car accident in October that claimed the lives of passengers Callum Mummery, 16, and Mason Hooton, 17.
Payne expressed his apologies to the families of the victims.
19-year-old Perth teenager Joel Payne has apologised for the crash that killed two of his friends
‘I’m very sorry for what’s happened,’ he said in an emotional exchange with 9News.
While Payne is yet to be sentenced, his lawyer Tim Houeweling says there’s no punishment that will surpass the mental pain the teenager’s faced over the past four months.
‘Joel is in the depths of despair and very remorseful about what has in fact occurred,’ said Houeweling. ‘It’s a matter that’s not only upset Joel’s family, it’s upset a number of families, and we feel for everybody.’
Mason Hooton (left) and Callum Mummery (right) died in the crash last October
It is not clear whether Payne was speeding when he lost control and ran his car into a tree
Payne was driving a Toyota Supra sports car when he lost control and collided with a tree on Secret Harbour Boulevard, near Mandurah, last October.
Passengers Mummery and Hooton were killed on impact, while a third passenger – identified as Shaun Sparrow, 16 – survived the crash and spent more than two months in hospital recovering from critical head injuries.
It is understood that the group of friends were on their way to a party when the incident occurred.
Visibly emotional, Payne told reporters that he’s ‘very sorry for what’s happened’
Whether or not Payne was speeding remains unclear, but witnesses have reported hearing the car accelerate before the crash.
He has pleaded guilty to two counts of dangerous driving causing death and one count of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm.
His bail has been extended until April 13, when he will face the district court to be sentenced for the charges.
Payne’s lawyer says there is no punishment that will exceed the 19-year-old’s mental suffering
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