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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald

Policeman not guilty of manslaughter over fatal crash

Matthew James Kelly, who was charged over the death of a motorcyclist, has been found not guilty of manslaughter but will return to court for a negligent driving charge.

A NSW police officer who fatally struck a motorcyclist during a pursuit on the Central Coast has been found not guilty of manslaughter.

Matthew James Kelly had pleaded not guilty to the charge and also faced an alternate charge of dangerous driving occasioning death.

A NSW District Court jury found him not guilty of both counts on Friday, after about two and a half hours of deliberation across two days.

However, prosecutors have launched an application to have Kelly tried for negligent driving occasioning death using the same evidence.

The police officer will reappear before Judge Penelope Hock for a hearing in the same court on April 4 to face the new charge.

The trial heard Kelly was driving a NSW Police Force Kia Sorrento in the early hours of April 16, 2020, when he pursued Jack Roberts.

The 28-year-old was riding an unregistered Honda trail bike up the Pacific Motorway at Blue Haven, on the Central Coast, before the two vehicles collided.

Mr Roberts died at the scene.

Supporters of both parties left the courtroom in tears on Friday.

To see more stories and read today's paper download the Newcastle Herald news app here.

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