An accused drug driver has admitted causing the accident which killed a young Melbourne model but the victim’s family’s fight for justice remains on hold.
Connor Mathiasson, 24, fronted a Melbourne court on Monday where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Elise Hodder.
Ms Hodder, 24, was at Sir Zelman Cowen Park in Kooyong in inner-east Melbourne, when she was struck by the vehicle driven by Mathiasson just after 1am on October 13 last year.
The glamourous young model with the world at her feet had gone out to party with friends at a rave before she was tragically killed.
It’s alleged Mathiasson, who turned 24 last month, attempted to reverse out of the car park when he struck three pedestrians including Ms Hodder.
Ms Hodder was trapped under the car and died at the scene.
Another female pedestrian, Emma Swords, 26 at the time, was rushed to the Alfred Hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery to reconstruct both her ankles.
Mathiasson, of Sunbury in Melbourne’s northwest, also pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing serious injury to Ms Swords.
The third pedestrian struck was uninjured.
The incident was allegedly witnessed by police officers who were attending the park due to several triple-0 calls regarding noise complaints.
Investigators alleged Mathiasson had a blood alcohol content of 0.213, more than four times the legal limit.
Mathiasson, who admitted in court today he was unlicenced at the time he caused the accident which killed Ms Hodder, is also suspected of having cannabis THC in his system.
Many of Ms Hodder’s family and friends including her parents were present at court to hear Mathiasson plead guilty however there is still a wait for full justice to be served.
Mathiasson pleaded not guilty to a more serious charge of culpable driving causing death and not guilty to negligent driving causing serious injury.
Rishi Nathwani KC, for Mathiasson, said his client ‘accepted responsibility’ for the accident ‘as he did at the scene’.
Mr Nathwani also said it was a possibility Mathiasson will contest the remaining charges but it was ‘unlikely it will be a trial hearing’.
Magistrate Michelle Mykytowycz paid her respects to Ms Hodder’s family for their courage in coming to court.
‘Thank you for coming to court today,’ Magistrate Mykytowycz said.
‘It really heartens me to see the strong support your family has for your daughter Elise, so I thank you.’
Shortly after the tragedy, Ms Hodder’s heartbroken parents, Pauline and Michael described their daughter to media as a ‘beautiful soul with a radiance that touched everybody’.
They were especially ‘proud’ of Ms Hodder for recently achieving a full-page in the August edition of the New York-based fashion publication Vanguard Magazine.
Ms Hodder’s shattered aunt also attended the crash scene the following day to lay flowers at a makeshift memorial.
Ms Hodder’s former agency, FiveTwenty Model Management, described Ms Hodder as ‘a delight to work with’.
‘She was very curious about the industry and gave it her all, always showing up with a bubbly, bright attitude,’ the agency said in a statement.
‘It is with deep sadness to have received this news. Our condolences go out to her family and friends.
‘Her presence and place in our hearts will never be forgotten. Rest in peace beautiful girl.’
A bail court heard previously Mathiasson’s father Hoerdur Mathiasson said he was unaware of his son’s alleged cannabis addiction.
Mr Mathiasson told the court in October he hadn’t seen his son in-person since Christmas but agreed to supervise him ’24-7′ if he was to be granted bail and would provide a $100,000 surety.
Mathiasson, who was remanded directly after the incident, was granted bail a few days later.
Outside court, the father told reporters that he feels for Ms Hodder’s family.
‘It’s devastating, absolutely devastating, I can’t, really and I don’t know what to say,’ he said.
Mathiasson’s bail application lawyer George Balot added: ‘The family express their deepest and condolences to this woman’s family and a speedy recovery to the other woman injured.’
Mathiasson had his bail extended with strict conditions he adhere to a curfew and not drive a vehicle.
He will front the County Court at a later date.