Major update in case of mother fined and set to lose licence after rushing cancer-stricken son to hospital
A Melbourne mother who was fined by police for speeding while rushing her cancer-stricken son to hospital has been inundated with offers of free legal advice following an appearance on Sunrise this week.
Kate Newitt choked back tears on the show on Tuesday, detailing how she was stopped on a Melbourne freeway and fined $500 and will now automatically lose her driver’s licence due to the fine.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Lawyer offers free advice to Melbourne mother Kate Newitt on Sunrise.
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Sydney-based lawyer Jahan Kalantar appeared at Brekky Central on Wednesday, offering Kate free representation as he outlined her options to fight the infringement.
“If Kate chooses to speak with us about her options — whether she pleads guilty but argues mitigating circumstances — we can run the defences available to her,” he said.
Jahan said courts were often very understanding of medical incidents, adding that police were human and could sometimes make the wrong call.
“Police are wonderful and do a good job but they are also human — you always have the right to seek legal advice (on matters such as this),” Jahan said.
Jahan said he was prepared to write to Victoria Police, to make them aware of the situation and see if they were prepared to exercise “more discretion” to see if it made a difference.
Kate captured the hearts of viewers on Tuesday, explaining how she was fined while rushing her 12-year-old son Caden — who is battling a brain tumour — to the emergency department, only to be stopped by police early on Monday morning.
Kate admitted she was doing 107km/h in an 80km/h zone down the freeway when she was pulled over.
On the show, Kate explained she was “distressed” during the conversation with the police officer as she attempted to explain the situation to him — but felt she was ignored.
“I made every attempt to explain our personal circumstances and the three-month journey that we have had to this point (since Caden’s cancer diagnosis) — but I felt, to be honest — that I was being dismissed.”
As part of Caden’s treatment plan, he must be taken to hospital as soon as possible when showing symptoms.
“Part of his treatment plan is when he is showing symptoms — such as severe fatigue and tiredness — it is to get him to an emergency department within 30 minutes,” Kate explained.
“I explained what treatment needed to happen and the fact that I needed to get him to emergency and that is where I was travelling to and I just felt that I wasn’t being heard.”
Kate said she was forced to undergo a “drug and alcohol test” by the officer, which came back clear. She was then slapped with the $500 speeding fine and told she would automatically lose her licence for three months.
“At that point in time I was distressed and they told me they could wait with me by the side of the road until they felt I was in a stable state to continue driving,” Kate said.
“I explained at that point in time I just needed to go (straight to the hospital) and I just needed to get him there.”
Kate said she respected Victorian Police but there needed to be “compassion” and “empathy” as each case had its own unique circumstances.
“This is what I was looking for in this situation,” she said.
Mark Beretta and Monique Wright, both called it a “nightmare situation” as Kate explained how badly she needed her licence.
“I have so many appointments — It’s not about the money, it’s not about the fine — I understand rules are rules — but I also need a licence to get my son to his appointments,” she said.
The officer explained she could appeal the fine, but Kate said that would require a court appearance.
“I made several phone calls yesterday — including to the station — but the next step for me is court,” she said.
“It’s time I don’t want to be investing, yes, I was speeding but it wasn’t impacting any other drivers.
“My priority was the health of my son — I just want to be heard.”
