Charges dropped in fatal crash court case

By Monique Preston

Jul 1, 2024

Charges have been dropped against a driver involved in a fatal crash.

Charges against a French driver involved in a fatal crash near Stanhope last year have been dropped.

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Clement Thomas Cheri, 25, of Jan Juc was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of a Shepparton woman in May last year.

The charge had been laid after a fatal crash between the small delivery truck Mr Cheri was driving and a car on the Midland Hwy at Carag Carag about noon on May 26, 2023.

A 73-year-old Shepparton woman, who was a passenger in the car, died in the crash.

However, the charge against Mr Cheri was struck out in the Bendigo Magistrates’ Court in May after the prosecutor withdrew the charge.

“After careful assessment of the available evidence, a determination was made that there were not reasonable prospects of conviction,” an Office of Public Prosecutions spokesperson said.

The withdrawal of the charge came only a month before the matter was due to be heard in a committal hearing.

Mr Cheri holds dual French and Australian citizenship and had been living in Australia since August 2022 — nine months before the crash.

The committal had been expected to centre on what Mr Cheri said to police at the scene and whether police had properly cautioned him that anything he said could be used in evidence.

The previous time the matter was in court had seen his defence solicitor apply to cross-examine police officers who had attended the scene of the crash about any conversation they had with Mr Cheri before their body-worn camera was turned on and whether he understood what was being said to him.