Lucas Martins Da Silva: Speeding driver admits mowing down acclaimed author Brenda Walker near Kings Park

A speeding driver who hit and killed an acclaimed author while on her morning walk in West Perth has pleaded guilty. Lucas Martins Da Silva hit ward-winning writer Brenda Walker with his Toyota Yaris as she crossed Kings Park Road just before 7am on December 10. The impact propelled the 67-year-old into the air and she landed 40m away. She was rushed to Royal Perth Hospital but did not survive. Martins Da Silva pleaded guilty in Perth Magistrates Court on Wednesday to driving dangerously causing death in circumstances of aggravation. His barrister David Manera did not request any reports to aid his client’s forthcoming sentencing. At the 30-year-old’s previous appearance in June, Mr Manera said that an expert report focused on speed and the manner of driving was needed before a plea could be entered. Magistrate Angus Hockton extended Martins Da Silva’s bail and listed the matter for a sentence mention in the higher District Court for November 14. Martins Da Silva, a Brazilian national on a temporary visa in Australia, did not speak with media outside court. In a statement, Dr Walker’s husband Alex Ruskulis said her family was pleased Martins Da Silva had accepted responsibility for his actions. “We trust that the sentence will reflect the enormous damage done to our entire family and the huge loss Brenda is to the entire community,” Mr Ruskulis said. A police prosecutor told the court in January that Martins Da Silva had been estimated as travelling up to 104k/h in the 60k/h zone and swerved before striking Dr Walker. He did not have alcohol or drugs in his system and was on his way to work at the time, the court was told. Martins Da Silva called triple-0 and attempted to help Dr Walker. He spent weeks in custody after being arrested at the scene. The carpenter, who moved to Perth with his wife from Melbourne a few years ago, had to surrender his passport and must not go near any international departure point as part of his bail conditions. Dr Walker taught English literature at the University of WA and mainly wrote fiction. Her memoir Reading By Moonlight: How Books Saved A Life was her foray into non-fiction and was written while she was recovering from breast cancer. She moved to Perth from her home state of NSW in 1984 and rose to the position of Winthrop Chair of English Literature and Cultural Studies, the first female professor in the department’s history.