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The man accused of killing Senior ACT Australian of the Year Sue Salthouse has indicated he will plead guilty to a drug-driving charge. But it remains unclear what Mitchell Ryan Laidlaw, 33, intends to do about a more serious charge of culpable driving causing death. Laidlaw was issued a court summons in November following a lengthy investigation into the July 2020 crash that claimed the life of Ms Salthouse, who was a highly respected advocate for people with disabilities. Police have said the Ngunnawal man’s utility appeared to have hit the rear of the 71-year-old victim’s wheelchair-accessible motorcycle as the vehicles travelled across the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge. In the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday morning, lawyer James McGuire indicated that Laidlaw would admit to driving with methamphetamine in his system as a repeat offender. “There is no indication to the second sequence,” he said in reference to the culpable driving allegation. Magistrate James Lawton adjourned the case until February 18. For faster access to the latest Canberra news, download The Canberra Times app for iOS and Android.
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But it remains unclear what Mitchell Ryan Laidlaw, 33, intends to do about a more serious charge of culpable driving causing death.
Mitchell Laidlaw, left, leaves court following his first appearance in December. Picture: Blake Foden
Police have said the Ngunnawal man’s utility appeared to have hit the rear of the 71-year-old victim’s wheelchair-accessible motorcycle as the vehicles travelled across the Commonwealth Avenue Bridge.
In the ACT Magistrates Court on Thursday morning, lawyer James McGuire indicated that Laidlaw would admit to driving with methamphetamine in his system as a repeat offender.
“There is no indication to the second sequence,” he said in reference to the culpable driving allegation.
Magistrate James Lawton adjourned the case until February 18.
