A woman who lost her mother and sister in a horrific triple fatal crash has spoken of the family’s “difficulty” facing her alleged killer in court.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, the mother of Brisbane Broncos forward Payne Haas, was the only survivor of the crash in the Gold Coast hinterland in December 2022.
Police allege Taufua was behind the wheel of a 2017 black Mercedes van that collided with two other cars in Bonogin just before 5pm on December 30 that year.
Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Zimmer’s daughter Steffanie, 35, died in the accident.
On Wednesday, Ms Taufua was sentenced to stand trial in the Supreme Court on three counts of manslaughter.
A large crowd of family supporters, as well as relatives and supporters of Ms Taufua, packed Southport Magistrates Court during her committal hearing.
Ms Taufua herself wore a leopard-spotted shirt and waved and smiled at her friends in the public gallery.
When asked by Magistrate Jane Bentley if she wanted to say anything in response to the prosecution, Ms Taufua replied “No, your honour.”
A woman who lost her mother and sister in a horrific triple fatal crash in 2022 has spoken of the family’s “difficulty” facing her alleged killer in court.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua (pictured, centre), the mother of Brisbane Broncos forward Payne Haas, was the only survivor of the crash in the Gold Coast hinterland region.
Claudine Snow told reporters outside Southport Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday it was a “distressing day”.
34 witness statements were submitted to the court.
Outside court, a tearful Claudine Snow said it was a “difficult” moment coming face to face with the alleged killer of her mother and sister in court.
“I just want to thank everyone for their support,” he said.
‘It’s a distressing day. “I need to complete the process for my family.”
Police Constable Patrick McDonald, a serving police officer who conducted the speed analysis on the crash, was the only witness called to testify during the proceedings.
He told the court he calculated Ms Taufua’s alleged speed from camera footage, which captured her car traveling on the road.
Solicitor Martin Longhurst asked Constable McDonald if he took into account parallax errors in his estimates that may have arisen in his analysis.
Mr Longhurst asked if there was any error in the speed at which he arrived.
“All I can say is that there is always the possibility of some error, and I think that has been taken into account,” Officer McDonald responded.
“It’s just the car as the reference point and the car after the reference point.”
Ms Taufua has been ordered to stand trial, where she will face three counts of manslaughter.
Broncos forward Payne Haas has previously spoken about the challenges behind his mother being in jail.
He went on to say that it made no difference if the camera device was configured further and would take into account a different speed.
Longhurst said his client admitted there was a prima facie case against him, upon cross-examination.
Ms Taufua was sentenced to stand trial on the three counts of manslaughter, while her other charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police, driving without a license and driving under the influence were adjourned until the 10th. June.
Police allege Ms Taufua was seen by officers driving “dangerously” on Bonogin Rd, near Calanthe Lane, just before 5pm.
The chase was abandoned after Ms Taufua allegedly fled.
Moments later, the same officers were notified of a crash involving two cars approximately a kilometer ahead.
Emergency services were able to free the Zimmers and Mr. Fawcett from their vehicle, but all three died at the scene.
The prosecution follows long delays in the Magistrates Court, with Ms Taufua changing legal representation several times and delays with medical and psychiatric evidence.
Ms Taufua remains in custody and no bail application has been made.
In a tribute to his sister and mother in early 2023, Snow said growing up with Susan and Steffanie was like “the three friends.”
He recalled that his mother always had a “magical smile” despite her harsh upbringing.
“Susan endures many obstacles, but she possessed immense talent and even fiercer resolve,” Mrs Snow told the packed crowd at the Bill Deacon Pavilion at Mudgeeraba Showgrounds.
He paid tribute to his mother’s love of roller skating and revealed that he performed the splits in front of his friends as a way to “show off”.