KENNETH Wayne Grant - the father of former NSW police minister Troy Grant - accused of causing a fatal hit-and-run at Bolwarra while twice the legal limit and leading police on a pursuit will plead not guilty and face a trial in Newcastle District Court.
Kenneth Grant, a 71-year-old retired police officer, appeared in Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday where he was committed for trial on charges of dangerous driving occasioning death, failing to stop and assist after vehicle impact causing death, police pursuit and mid-range drink driving.
The matter was adjourned to Newcastle District Court on February 18 when Kenneth Grant is expected to plead not guilty and get a trial date likely in 2022.
Kenneth Grant is accused of running down scientist Tony Greenfield on Flat Road, Bolwarra between 11.20pm and 11.30pm on November 30, 2019. Less than 10 minutes later he is accused of leading police on a pursuit along Belmore Road at Lorn and was allegedly driving with two flat tyres as he fled the scene of the fatal crash.
When he was stopped, Kenneth Grant allegedly declared that his son was an "ex-police minister" and claimed to be suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and high blood pressure.
He was breath tested and returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.108 - more than twice the legal limit.
He was arrested and charged with mid-range drink driving and police pursuit, but crash investigators didn't charge him over the fatal hit-and-run until more than a week later.
According to court documents, DNA from Mr Greenfield was found on Kenneth Grant's car. Police said Kenneth Grant did not confess to the hit-and-run after his arrest, but admitted to owning the car on which detectives positively identified Mr Greenfield's DNA at "impacted areas".
"There is an independent witness that has the vehicle driving erratically at speed crossing double white lines a short distance away from the crime scene and just moments prior to the police pursuit," the court documents state.
In an Instagram post after her father's death, Bronwen Greenfield said: "My heart is broken, I shouldn't have to write this about my dad who was only 62 years young and taken unexpectedly from us by a fatal hit and run." "I have no words to explain the heartache we have over a man who had such a positive impact on so many lives."
