A Melbourne man accused of killing a 16-year-old girl and injuring four others in a horror crash will remain behind bars over Christmas after prosecutors rejected his plea offer.
Gulet Mohammed Ahmed, 40, on Monday returned before the Melbourne Magistrates’ Court where his lawyer, Jasmine Pisasale, asked for the case to be adjourned while his defence is “finalising a couple of inquiries”.
“Those will determine whether a committal is necessary or if the matter will resolve,” she said.
The court was told an offer to plead to a lesser charge of dangerous driving causing death – which carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment – had been rejected by the prosecution.
Instead, prosecutors want to continue on a charge of culpable driving causing death, which carries a maximum jail sentence of 20 years.
Police allege Mr Ahmed was almost four times the legal alcohol limit and high on ice when he ran three red lights before crashing his Volkswagen Passat into an Alfa Romeo on March 11, near the intersection of Lygon and Elgin streets in Carlton.
Multiple passengers in the Romeo were injured, including the teenage girl, who died in hospital four days later, and her parents, the court was previously told.
The force of the crash allegedly caused the Romeo to spin out and strike two pedestrians who were walking their dog.
Mr Ahmed was detained by bystanders before police arrived and allegedly blew a blood alcohol reading of 0.194, the court was previously told
He has been charged with 16 offences, including culpable driving causing death, reckless conduct, dangerous driving and possessing methylamphetamine.
Given the option of a return date before Christmas or in early January, Ms Pisasale said bringing the case back this year would be “wasting the court’s time”.
Mr Ahmed was remanded into custody and will return before the same court in January.