A combination of "speed, inexperience [and] intoxication" contributed to a fatal crash that caused the death of a 21-year-old man, whose corpse was repeatedly struck by a friend.
Nathan Allen Mugridge died in May 2022 after crashing a blue Subaru WRX into a pole on Kingsford Smith Drive in Melba. He had been speeding about 40kmh above the limit shortly beforehand.
The ACT Coroner's Court has found Mr Mugridge never held a licence and, at the time, had a blood alcohol reading more than two times the legal limit for full-licence holders.
His passenger and the owner of the car, Samuel Berronn, was previously sentenced for repeatedly striking Mr Mugridge's corpse after the fatal crash.
In a decision published on Thursday, Coroner Ken Archer did not determine the precise cause of the crash, however, said: "excessive speed, inexperience, intoxication, the performance characteristics of the car, and the poor mechanical condition of the vehicle were factors that had likely contributed".
On the day in question, Mr Mugridge and Mr Berronn went to a club to "play pokies and have a few drinks".
They left about 5pm, when Mr Berronn passed Mr Mugridge his keys saying he knew the 21-year-old had "really wanted to drive that car from the day [he] got it".
With Mr Mugridge behind the wheel, they travelled south on Kingsford Smith Drive.
The published decision states Mr Berron remembered thinking his friend was "driving like a granny" and told him to "give it a bit" to "listen to the turbo if [he] wanted to hear what it sounds like".
While Mr Berron did not remember feeling "any force or fastness", he said the other man had probably put his foot down and "boosted" the car.
He then heard Mr Mugridge screaming "f---" as the car failed to negotiate a curve and started to skid.
The car continued to skid for about 25 metres as it hit street signs and crossed a median strip before striking a light pole.
After the crash, Mr Berron got out of the vehicle and started yelling at his deceased friend before climbing back into the car and striking Mr Mugridge's chest and shoulder areas multiple times.
In the ACT Magistrates Court last year, Mr Berron was handed a 12-month good behaviour order and ordered to pay a $2000 fine.
He had pleaded guilty to indecently interfering with a dead human body and to common assault.
Mr Mugridge's mother had taken the stand to detail the emotional burden the death of her "best friend" and the following offence had on her.
"Samuel, you dishonoured and disgraced my son in the worst possible way," she said at the time.
"You got angry because of the collision, and you took your anger out on my child.
"That's not what friends do."
In Thursday's published decision, Mr Archer found the WRX had numerous aftermarket modifications and was not roadworthy due to insufficient tyre depths and suspension height.
The car also "appeared to have been poorly maintained" with a damaged front bumper and rear subframe which occurred before the fatal crash.
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