Teen's family come face-to-face with man accused of causing fatal crash
The family of Mitchell Chase, killed in a horror motorcycle crash, have come face-to-face with the man accused of killing the Perth teen.
Police allege 24-year-old Jude Francis was tailing Mitchell at speed, because he suspected the motorcycle the 15-year-old was riding was his stolen bike.
It’s alleged Francis was trying to get a closer look at the bike, which did belong to Mitchell.
For more than a kilometre, 15-year-old Mitchell was followed by a car in Aubin Grove in December last year.
It’s alleged Mitchell ran a give way sign, because he was looking back at a black Mercedes, and slammed into the driver’s side of an SUV.
It's alleged Francis drove away after the crash and left Mitchell lying on the road.
“I haven’t thought too much about the accused,” Mitchell’s father Wayne said.
“We’ve been trying to focus on the positives because Mitch was a positive person.
“He influenced so many people.”
Five weeks after the fatal crash, police charged Francis with manslaughter, failing to report an incident occasioning death and failing to stop and provide assistance.
The 24-year-old appeared in court on Friday and was granted bail.
But he was taken into custody when his surety failed to show. He’ll be back in court later this year.
