P-plater, Aaron Papazoglu, denied bail as crash kills woman, unborn child in Sydney’s northwest

The teenager who was behind the wheel of a car involved in a tragic crash that killed a woman and her unborn child will remain behind bars.

P-plater Aaron Papazoglu, 19, was driving a BMW that struck a Kia station wagon on Friday evening, with the second car hitting the 33-year-old woman who was eight months pregnant.

Paramedics treated the woman at Hornsby, in Sydney’s northwest, and she was taken to hospital but neither her nor her baby could be saved.

Papazoglu, who has no previous criminal or driving offences, accelerated through an intersection when the traffic light changed to orange, his lawyer Patrick Schmidt told Parramatta Local Court on Sunday.

Police believe a car was pushed into the woman when it was hit from behind by another vehicle.

Papazoglu is facing three charges, including dangerous driving occasioning death and causing the loss of a foetus.

Applying for bail, Mr Schmidt said the Kia station wagon had stopped to let the pedestrians cross the road and Papazoglu would have been expecting the car to have completed its turn before he collided with it.

The teenager had not been using any drugs or alcohol, was not street racing and had not run a red light, he said.

“This wasn’t a prolonged, intentional act. This is … a tragic outcome to a series of unfortunate events,” Mr Schmidt said.

Police allege Papazoglu was speeding, although prosecutors were unsure what evidence supported that claim.

Papazoglu, who is studying a business degree at university, appeared in court via video link from a police holding cell, wearing a hooded jumper.

He sat silently with his head down as Magistrate Ray Plibersek read the facts about the case.

His lawyer presented character references to the court, including from his mother, aunt, uncle and his employer at an after-school care centre.

Mr Plibersek noted Papazoglu’s “excellent” driving record and said he seemed to be a “young man of good standing”, but knocked back his bail application due to the seriousness of the charges.

“It’s an absolutely tragic case,” he said.

“It’s a terrible outcome for two families … the community’s heart goes out to (the victim’s) family for the tragic loss.”

Police had opposed bail due to the seriousness of the matter and said a prison sentence was likely if Papazoglu was convicted.

Papazoglu’s matter will return to court on Tuesday for a mention, with a brief of evidence due by January 18.

The magistrate asked Papazoglu if he understood what had happened in court.

“I just really want to see my family,” Papazoglu replied.