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🇦🇺 Australia /Crime & Justice

Cairns police to push for murder charge over stolen car death

From ABC Australia · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Police in Cairns, Australia, are seeking to upgrade a manslaughter charge to murder against a man accused of killing a woman while driving a stolen car.
  • The accused, Jake Edward Warn, allegedly crashed the stolen vehicle into two other cars, killing 25-year-old Savannah Paige.
  • The court also heard allegations that Warn attempted to steal officers' firearms while in hospital custody after the crash.

A man accused of causing a fatal crash while driving a stolen car could face a murder charge, a court in Cairns has heard. Jake Edward Warn, 36, appeared in Cairns Magistrates Court facing multiple charges, including manslaughter, following a collision on the Smithfield Bypass that killed 25-year-old Savannah Paige.

I'm told we are going to take up with the Director of Public Prosecutions as to whether felonious or reckless indifference murder is made out by the brief of evidence.

— Senior Sergeant Maynard MarcumThe police prosecutor informed the court of the intention to ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider upgrading the charge to murder.

Police allege Warn was driving a stolen vehicle just 15 minutes before he crashed into two other cars. The impact killed Paige, a 25-year-old woman from Kewarra Beach. During the court proceedings, Senior Sergeant Maynard Marcum indicated that police intend to ask the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider upgrading the charge to murder, citing felonious or reckless indifference.

It may be that that is the more appropriate charge.

— Senior Sergeant Maynard MarcumThe police prosecutor suggested that a murder charge might be more fitting based on the evidence.

"It may be that that is the more appropriate charge," Senior Sergeant Marcum told the court. He noted that a manslaughter charge alone, even with a serious violent offender declaration, could carry a significant penalty, potentially 12 to 15 years. However, he added that the evidence suggested more serious charges were warranted. The court also heard that Warn allegedly attempted to steal two officers' firearms while in hospital custody after the crash.

Obviously a particular manslaughter of this nature, robbing a young woman of her life, a period of 12 to 15 years may well be open for manslaughter itself.

— Senior Sergeant Maynard MarcumThe police prosecutor explained the potential sentencing range for a manslaughter charge in this case.

Beyond the fatal collision, Warn faces unrelated charges from prior days, including four domestic violence charges and three driving offences. His lawyer did not apply for bail. The case has sent ripples of grief and anger through the far north Queensland community, prompting calls for government action on car thefts. The court is scheduled to revisit Warn's case on October 27.

It may be that the director decides that is sufficient.

— Senior Sergeant Maynard MarcumThe police prosecutor acknowledged that the Director of Public Prosecutions might deem the manslaughter charge sufficient.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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