A woman who lost her mother and sister in a horrific triple-fatal accident has spoken out about the family’s “difficulty” in facing their alleged killer in court.
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua, the mother of Brisbane Broncos forward Payne Haas, was the sole survivor of the crash in the Gold Coast hinterland in December 2022.
Police allege Ms Taufua was behind the wheel of a black 2017 Mercedes car that collided with two other cars in Bonogin just before 5pm on December 30 that year.
The crash killed Susan Zimmer, 70, her partner Chris Fawcett, 79, and Ms Zimmer’s 35-year-old daughter Steffanie.
On Wednesday, Ms Taufua was due to stand trial at the High Court on three charges of manslaughter.
A large crowd of the family’s supporters, in addition to Ms Taufua’s family and supporters, stormed the Southport Magistrates Court during her hearing.
Ms Taufua herself was dressed in a leopard-spotted shirt and waved and smiled at her friends in the public gallery.
When asked by Magistrate Jane Bentley if she wanted to say anything in response to the commitment, Ms Taufua replied ‘No, Your Honor’.
A woman who lost her mother and sister in a horrific triple fatal crash in 2022 has spoken out about the family’s ‘difficulty’ in facing their alleged killer in court
Uiatu ‘Joan’ Taufua (pictured, centre), mother of Brisbane Broncos forward Payne Haas, was the sole survivor of the crash in the Gold Coast hinterland
Claudine Snow told reporters outside Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday it was a ‘disturbing day’
34 witness statements were presented to the court.
Outside court, a tearful Claudine Snow said it was a ‘difficult’ moment to face the alleged killer of her mother and sister in court.
“I want to thank everyone for their support,” she said.
‘It’s a sad day. I need to understand the process for my family.”
Senior Constable Patrick McDonald, a police officer who conducted the speed analysis of the crash, was the only witness called to testify during the proceedings.
He told the court he had calculated Ms Taufua’s alleged speed from CCTV footage, which showed her car on the road.
Lawyer Martin Longhurst asked Constable McDonald whether he was taking into account parallax errors in his estimates that may have arisen in his analysis:
Mr Longhurst asked if there was an error in the speed at which he arrived.
“All I can say is that there is always the possibility of error and I believe that has been taken into account,” Constable McDonald replied.
‘It’s purely the car in front of the reference point, and the car after the reference point.’
Ms Taufua is due to stand trial, where she will face three charges of manslaughter
Broncos forward Payne Haas has previously spoken about the challenges behind his mother being in prison
He went on to say that there was no difference if the camera device was set further and if it took a different speed into account.
Mr Longhurst said his client had admitted after cross-examination that there was a prima facie case against her.
Ms Taufua was committed to stand trial on the three manslaughter charges, while her other charges of dangerous operation of a motor vehicle, evading police, driving without a license and drink driving were adjourned until June 10.
Police allege Ms Taufua was spotted by officers driving ‘dangerously’ along Bonogin Rd near Calanthe Lane just before 5pm.
A pursuit was halted after Ms Taufua reportedly fled.
Moments later, the same officers received a report of an accident involving two cars about a kilometer away.
Emergency services were able to free the Zimmers and Mr Fawcett from their vehicle, but all three died at the scene.
The sentence follows lengthy delays at the Magistrates Court, with Ms Taufua changing legal representation several times and delays with medical and psychiatric evidence.
Ms Taufua remains in pre-trial detention and no bail application has been made.
In a memorial for her sister and mother in early 2023, Ms. Snow said growing up with Susan and Steffanie was like “the three amigos.”
She recalled that despite her difficult upbringing, her mother always had a “magical smile.”
“Susan endures many obstacles but possesses immense talent and even fiercer determination,” Ms Snow told the packed crowd at the Bill Deacon Pavilion at Mudgeeraba Showgrounds.
She paid tribute to her mother’s love of roller skating and revealed she performed the splits in front of her friends as a way to ‘show off’.