Balcatta hit-and-run: Teen pleads not guilty to murdering Rebecca Collard

A teenage boy accused of murdering a 48-year-old woman after he allegedly ran her over with a car has pleaded not guilty to the charge. The 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, denied murdering Rebecca Collard in Perth Children’s Court on Thursday morning. He also pleaded not guilty to one count of failing to stop and another of failing to report an incident to police. His matter was then adjourned until January, with his release from Banksia Hill Juvenile Detention Centre not considered after a failed bail bid six weeks ago. At a previous court hearing on October 12, it was alleged the teen deliberately drove a Subaru at Ms Collard — a stranger to him — on Wanneroo Road in Balcatta on the morning of October 4. Following his arrest, the teen has spent four days in the intensive supervision unit at Banksia Hill, over fears for his safety — both from other detainees and himself. Despite fears of retribution attacks inside the trouble-plagued facility, the teen’s bail was refused by Children’s Court President, Judge Hylton Quail a week later on October 19. A suppression order was also put in place during those proceedings, preventing the publication of any of the alleged facts of the case read out on the day. While Thursday’s hearing was the fourth time the teen had appeared on the murder charge, it marked the first for the other alleged offences (failing to stop, and failing to report an incident to police). The teen entered his three not guilty pleas by video link from Banksia Hill, with dates for his trial yet to be finalised. He did not speak other than to confirm he understood each of the charges, and to deny them. The case was adjourned for a status conference on January 24. It is expected the teen will appear for that hearing in person instead of a video connection.