Last-minute guilty plea over fatal crash which killed baby and two women

Nathaniel Jackman has pleaded guilty to multiple charges in connection with a fatal ute rollover in Western Australia's Midwest, which resulted in the deaths of a baby and two women in 2024. The incident occurred near Yalgoo, approximately 500 kilometers north of Perth, on August 10, 2024. Jackman, who was 24 years old at the time, was driving a Toyota Hilux with five passengers on board when the vehicle rolled.

The court heard that Jackman had been due to face trial in the Geraldton District Court but instead pleaded guilty to three counts of dangerous driving causing death and two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. Prosecutors alleged that Jackman had never held a valid driver's license, was driving while fatigued, and was transporting an excessive number of passengers. There was no infant car seat, and the passengers were not wearing seatbelts.

Jackman's defense lawyer, George Guidice, stated that Jackman was forced to drive, despite having no license. He explained that the group had traveled from Kalgoorlie to Meekatharra the previous day for a funeral and that there had been arguments after the funeral about whether to stay an additional night or continue to Geraldton.

Guidice alleged that Dwayne Ashwin, the father of the deceased baby, had driven around 230 kilometers past Mount Magnet before instructing Jackman to take over the wheel. He further stated that Jackman, who had a history of falling asleep while driving, fell asleep around 90 kilometers per hour while attempting to steer the vehicle back onto the road.

The prosecution presented evidence that Jackman had been found to have THC in his system, indicating that he had consumed cannabis earlier in the day. The court heard that Levi Ashwin, the infant passenger, died at the scene from multiple injuries, including skull and rib fractures. Gabrielle Brockman, the mother of Levi, and Marrika Brockman, 33, also suffered fatal head injuries.

The court further heard that two other passengers, Dwayne Ashwin and Jeffrey Incich, sustained serious injuries, with Incich requiring 24-hour support and being permanently disabled.