Matthew McLuckie, pictured when he was on a family holiday. Photo: Tom McLuckie.
The woman accused of killing Matthew McLuckie in a car crash last year has been committed to the ACT’s higher court for trial, although the question of whether she is fit enough to plead has been reserved for the time being.
Mr McLuckie, 20, died after a two-vehicle collision on Hindmarsh Drive at around 11 pm on 19 May 2022 when he was heading home from work.
It is alleged Shakira May Adams had been driving a stolen Volkswagen on the wrong side of the road at a speed of no less than 177 km/h before they collided.
She is also accused of driving while she had drugs in her system and didn’t hold a driver’s licence.
Police previously said she had suffered significant injuries and needed extensive medical care.
Ms Adams, from Bruce, appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court to face her charges for the first time on Tuesday (14 March) via audio-visual link from the Canberra Hospital.
The 20-year-old was not present when the case was heard in court in February and her lawyers said there was likely to be a question raised on her fitness to plead to her charges.
On Tuesday (14 March), her Legal Aid lawyer Tamzin Lee asked for her to be committed to the Supreme Court, said no pleas would be entered yet and noted the question of her fitness to plead would be reserved.
Magistrate Robert Cook committed Ms Adams to the Supreme Court for trial, granted bail and adjourned until 23 March for the first appearance of the case in the higher court.
“Yes, I did,” Ms Adams replied when asked if she had heard those developments, then responded, “No, thank you”, when asked if there was anything else.
She has been handed five charges: manslaughter, culpable driving causing death, reckless driving, unlicenced driving and driving a car taken without consent.
Police have previously said a third vehicle, believed to have also been travelling east in the westbound lanes of Hindmarsh Drive before the collision, had been recovered.
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