A young man who was driving a car that struck and killed Kiama teen Libby Ruge has been released from custody six days after he was initially refused bail.
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Indian national Jaskaran Singh, 18, has been charged with six driving offences over the crash that killed 19-year-old aspiring model Libby Ruge, and injured her two friends while they were walking along a footpath on the Princes Highway, near the Collegians Club and Overboard surf store on November 7.
Car passenger Arpan Sharma, a 21-year-old Indian student and part-time cleaner, is accused of pulling the hand brake on the moving Toyota Camry. He was granted bail in Wollongong Local Court last Monday.
In court last Tuesday, Magistrate Susan McGowan refused to grant Singh bail as he was deemed a flight risk.
However, he reapplied for bail on Monday morning as his defence lawyer Patrick Schmidt secured Singh a place of residence, surety of $5000, three references from members of the Indian community and he could surrender Singh's passport.
Mr Schmidt told the court his client had been invited to a party by work friends after he finished a shift as a cleaner at Woolworths, but he did not drink.
Mr Schmidt claimed Singh stopped his intoxicated friends from getting into a car and driving and instead drove them home.
According to a police account of events, Sharma allegedly pulled the hand brake causing the car to skid for 30 metres before the hand brake was released.
The car then travelled another 20 metres north as it veered sharply to the left, mounting the kerb and footpath and colliding heavily with the trio, pushing them forwards.
Eva Harrison, 18, and her 21-year-old boyfriend Tye West were hospitalised with a fractured pelvis and leg and rib fractures, respectively.
A 20-year-old male pedestrian - Miss Ruge's boyfriend Luke Day - escaped injury.
Following the crash, Singh allegedly walked about 15 metres away, collapsed into the fetal position and then presented himself to police when his friend called him to come back to the crash scene.
Mr Schmidt told the court Singh was essentially "stuck in the country" due to COVID-19 restrictions.
"Members of the Indian community plan to help this man get through this process," Mr Schmidt added.
He also noted there had been "community outrage" and Singh felt "great shame" that his parents in India knew he had been charged.
Police prosecutor Ben Bragger "strenuously opposed" bail due to the risk of Singh not appearing in court.
"Someone is dead, the seriousness of this case can not be overstated," he said.
"There is a risk he could flee back to his homeland."
Magistrate Brett Thomas granted Singh bail noting that he had no criminal history including no warrants or failure to appear and that conditions could be imposed to mitigate the risk of Singh not coming to court.
Singh must live at the University of Wollongong's campus east, report to police every day and he can not contact any witnesses or Sharma.
Singh can not enter an international airport or go with one kilometre of an international point of departure, he must surrender his passport and not apply for a new one, and needed one acceptable person to deposit and forfeit $5000.
Singh is also not allowed to occupy the front seat of a car.
His case was adjourned to January 20.
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