Friends rush to defend allegedly unlicensed man accused of killing grandmother in shocking crash
Friends of a man accused of killing a clairvoyant grandmother in a shocking accident on Wednesday night in Elizabeth South have come to his defence.
The friends said Friday Timothy Wagner, 23, is a good person who made a bad choice.
Meanwhile tributes are flowing for the 74-year-old victim.
For Arthur Camac, the tragedy of losing his friend Ethel Boyce is still sinking in.
"Yeah we're just shattered. Literally really shattered," he said.
He and his wife sat next to Mrs Boyce at church on Wednesday night.
Mr Camac said his fellow worshiper was "kindhearted" and would "do anything for you".
"She was a real pleasant woman," he said.
Mrs Boyce was 100 metres from home when she was struck.
Police had been chasing Mr Wagner's Holden but say they had called it off before he allegedly ran a red light and slammed into Mrs Boyce's car.
Police are reviewing CCTV from nearby businesses.
Mr Wagner is charged with causing death by dangerous driving. He was allegedly unlicensed.
His girlfriend, a passenger in the car, was also injured in the crash.
The pair were discharged from hospital Friday afternoon where friends immediately leapt to their defence.
"Unfortunately something went wrong and someone lost their life because of it," friend Amanda Thompson said.
"But overall he's not a bad bloke, he just made the wrong choice."
But if the choice were up to up to the victim's friend Mr Camac, he would "put him away forever".
Mrs Boyce volunteered as a clairvoyant at her local church, which paid tribute to the grandmother, describing her as a true earth angel.