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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Australia helicopter collision: Woman used Sea World pilot's name to avoid driving fine | Australia helicopter collision: Woman used Sea World pilot's name to avoid driving fine |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| Two Australians and a British couple died in the mid-air crash | Two Australians and a British couple died in the mid-air crash |
| An Australian woman has admitted trying to pin a driving fine on a pilot killed in a horrific mid-air helicopter crash. | An Australian woman has admitted trying to pin a driving fine on a pilot killed in a horrific mid-air helicopter crash. |
| Stephanie Louise Bennett was caught using her phone while behind the wheel, but used details in Ashley Jenkinson's obituary to accuse him of the offence. | Stephanie Louise Bennett was caught using her phone while behind the wheel, but used details in Ashley Jenkinson's obituary to accuse him of the offence. |
| The UK-born pilot was among four people killed when two helicopters collided near Brisbane in January. | The UK-born pilot was among four people killed when two helicopters collided near Brisbane in January. |
| Ms Bennett pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft on Wednesday. She will be sentenced in May. | Ms Bennett pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft on Wednesday. She will be sentenced in May. |
| Police say the 33-year-old was sent a fine notice in early January, shortly after she was caught using her phone while driving - an offence which attracts a penalty of A$1,078 (£575). | Police say the 33-year-old was sent a fine notice in early January, shortly after she was caught using her phone while driving - an offence which attracts a penalty of A$1,078 (£575). |
| She disputed the fine online, instead nominating Mr Jenkinson - who she did not know - as the driver at the time of the offence in December. | She disputed the fine online, instead nominating Mr Jenkinson - who she did not know - as the driver at the time of the offence in December. |
| Mr Jenkinson's partner alerted authorities after receiving the fine notice weeks after his death. | Mr Jenkinson's partner alerted authorities after receiving the fine notice weeks after his death. |
| Ms Bennett had previously avoided court - instead trying to enter a guilty plea by email, which the magistrate rejected - and disguised herself with a scarf as she arrived to heckles on Wednesday. | Ms Bennett had previously avoided court - instead trying to enter a guilty plea by email, which the magistrate rejected - and disguised herself with a scarf as she arrived to heckles on Wednesday. |
| In Ms Bennett's email to the court, which was read aloud, she apologised "for the turmoil this has caused anyone" and said she was "immensely regretful for my actions". | In Ms Bennett's email to the court, which was read aloud, she apologised "for the turmoil this has caused anyone" and said she was "immensely regretful for my actions". |
| She said she had been going through "personal matters" and "financial troubles" at the time, and had tried to undo her actions the next morning. | She said she had been going through "personal matters" and "financial troubles" at the time, and had tried to undo her actions the next morning. |
| Mr Jenkinson's helicopter, which was taking off, collided with a helicopter coming in to land at Sea World, on the Gold Coast, on 4 January. | Mr Jenkinson's helicopter, which was taking off, collided with a helicopter coming in to land at Sea World, on the Gold Coast, on 4 January. |
| He was killed, along with three passengers on board - Sydney woman Vanessa Tadros, and British couple Ron and Diane Hughes - and three others were seriously injured. | He was killed, along with three passengers on board - Sydney woman Vanessa Tadros, and British couple Ron and Diane Hughes - and three others were seriously injured. |
| The other helicopter was heavily damaged but managed to land on a sandbar. | The other helicopter was heavily damaged but managed to land on a sandbar. |
| A report on the Sea World crash last month suggested one pilot may have not heard a vital radio call before the two aircraft came into contact. | A report on the Sea World crash last month suggested one pilot may have not heard a vital radio call before the two aircraft came into contact. |