A former teacher at Groote Eylandt's Angurugu school has pleaded guilty in Darwin Supreme Court today to 5 charges, including driving dangerously causing death, and recklessly endangering harm.
Ian De Silva, 53, was the driver of a Toyota four-wheel drive, owned by the school, that came off-road and rolled in late December 2021, killing a 10-year-old Anindilyakwa boy.
The young man and at least two other boys were passengers in the car.
After the rollover, De Silva was arrested and flown to hospital in Darwin, where he was treated for minor injuries.
Forensic officers examined the crash site and he was charged with driving a motor vehicle causing death, four counts of recklessly endangering life, and driving unlicensed.
The unlicensed driving charge was not part of today's arraignment, those allegations having been made by police in Local Court hearings last year.
De Silva on Friday pleaded guilty to driving dangerously causing death, and four charges of recklessly endangering serious harm using a motor vehicle, to four other boys, the youngest of which was seven at the time of the crash.
De Silva remains on bail and is expected to return to Darwin Supreme Court on Tuesday.
The rollover had been the subject of an NT Worksafe investigation last year, with the regulator finding that De Silva had breached his work health and safety duties while transporting the students from a sports carnival.
An NT Worksafe Spokesperson says no further action was taken, as NT Police had already brought criminal charges against Mr De Silva.
The spokesperson said Angurugu School "had the appropriate policies and systems in place regarding the maintenance and use of school vehicles, and the transportation of students. No breaches under the work health and safety laws were identified."
