Charlie Stevens: South Australia’s top police officer faces young driver who killed his son in hit-and-run crash

A young driver who fatally injured the son of South Australia’s top police officer in a hit-and-run crash has again apologised to the victim’s family.

Charlie Stevens’ family shared their anguish after Dhirren Singh Randhawa, who pleaded guilty to aggravated driving without due care and leaving an accident scene after causing death, apologised to them in court on Thursday for their loss.

The 18-year-old victim’s parents Police Commissioner Grant Stevens and his wife Emma, heard from Randhawa and his mother Amreeta Stara that “no apology can ever bring back the life that was lost or lessen the pain and suffering endured”.

“Words cannot adequately convey the sorrow and regret I feel over this devastating incident,” Mrs Stara told Adelaide’s District Court.

“I understand that no apology can ever bring back the life that was lost or lessen the pain and suffering endured.”

Randhawa, 19, said he kept Charlie Stevens constantly in his thoughts.

“I think about the impact losing Charlie has had and try my hardest to empathise with you,” Randhawa read from a second letter to the family since pleading guilty in August.

“I know hearing Charlie’s life support being switched off was the most difficult thing I’ve heard in my life,” he wrote to the family.

“You’re always on my mind. So is Charlie. And will be forever.”

Randhawa said seeing the family’s sorrow and on the “verge of tears” impacted him more than “any death threat”.

“There’s so much I’d like to say, but mostly I want to say I’m sorry.”

“And I’m sorry Charlie.”

The family delivered statements on Thursday expressing their deep grief and sadness over the loss of their brother and son.

Charlie Stevens died in hospital after the accident in Goolwa, about 90km southeast of Adelaide.