Fed: Cadet pleads guilty to culpable driving causing death

AAP General News (Australia)
08-13-2008
Fed: Cadet pleads guilty to culpable driving causing death

CANBERRA, Aug 13 AAP - A defence cadet on exchange from the United Arab Emirates has
pleaded guilty to culpable driving charges that resulted in the death of an Australian
fellow trainee officer.

Ahmed Alzaabi, 24, was under the influence of alcohol and driving at high speed around
a sharp bend when his Toyota Solara coupe slammed into a concrete barrier on June 13.

The car was carrying five cadets who were returning to the Australian Defence Force
Academy (ADFA) in Canberra after a night of partying.

The crash, which occurred about 2.45am (AEST) on Constitution Avenue in Campbell, claimed
the life of 18-year-old Queenslander cadet Ben Taylor.

Nicholas McRae, 19, and Timothy Veyret, 20, received serious head injuries, while a
fifth trainee, Timothy Hirt escaped relatively unscathed.

Mr Alzaabi appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court today with a new defence team and
members of the academy.

He pleaded guilty to one charge of culpable driving causing death and two counts of
culpable driving negligently causing grievous bodily harm.

Sergeant Dick Dauth from ACT Police told the court Mr Alzaabi had been driving at 130km/h
in a 60km/h zone.

Mr Alzaabi also recorded a blood alcohol level of 0.123, more than twice the legal
limit, he said.

Mr Alzaabi, a United Arab Emirates national, will be sentenced in the ACT Supreme Court
on August 21.

AAP sld/maur/bwl

KEYWORD: ALZAABI

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