A teenager has admitted causing the death of the South Australian police commissioner’s son in a horror crash during Schoolies celebrations.
Dhirren Singh Randhawa, 18, was charged with dangerous driving causing the death of Charlie Stevens on November 17 last year.
Charlie Stevens, 18, son of the state’s current police commissioner, Grant Stevens, was hit and killed while he was with friends celebrating Schoolies at Goolwa Beach, 67km south of Adelaide.
During an appearance in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday, Randhawa pleaded guilty to one count of driving without due care.
He also pleaded guilty to charges of leaving the scene of an accident after causing death.
Charlie Stevens died when he was hit by a car at Schoolies in SA (pictured with his father Grant Stevens, the SA Police Commissioner)
Dhirren Singh Randhawa, 18, was charged with dangerous driving causing death.
Prosecutors dropped charges of dangerous driving causing death and failing to answer a question about the identity of the driver or owner of the vehicle.
Randhawa will return to court on August 9 to be arraigned on the charges to which he pleaded guilty.
Commissioner Stevens and his family attended the arraignment and spoke briefly outside the courthouse.
South African Police Commissioner Grant Stevens appeared with his family outside the court.
Dhirren Randhawa, 18 (right) has been charged with the death of Charlie Stevens (left)
“Today we came to the magistrates court and heard Dhirren plead guilty to aggravated due care causing death and leaving the scene of the collision,” he told 9 News.
‘This is one step in the process, there are still a few more steps left, so I think it would be appropriate to say more at a later time.
“I think on behalf of our family we would like to acknowledge that Dhirren has taken responsibility for his actions, which caused us to lose our son Charlie. “We were also given a letter of apology and we will take the time to read it.
‘Thanks for your understanding.’
Randhawa remains free on bail.
