A teenage driver of a speeding ute that slammed into two trees and killed five students will wait at least three months to learn how long he will spend in jail for the deaths.
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Tyrell Edwards, 19, will be sentenced on five counts of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death after the high-speed crash at Buxton, southwest of Sydney, on September 6, 2022.
He was taken into custody after pleading guilty in Picton Local Court earlier in August.
On Thursday, he appeared via video-link in Campbelltown District Court to maintain his guilty pleas.
He is due to be sentenced on November 21 and Judge Tanya Smith ordered he appear in person.
Crown prosecutor Emma Sponza requested a courtroom with appropriate capacity.
"We do anticipate a large number of people," she said.
Families of the five students killed in the crash, as well as Edwards' supporters, have previously attended the court hearings.
The case will return to court on October 26 to confirm that reports relied on for Edwards' sentencing have been handed to prosecutors, who may seek their own reports in response.
"Yes, I understand that, Your Honour," Edwards said after the judge explained the timeline for his sentencing.
The P-plater's Nissan Navara was travelling at more than twice the speed limit for periods before it crashed, killing five Picton High School students.
Lily Van De Putte and Gabby McLennan, both 14, Summer Williams and Tyrese Bechard, both 15, and Antonio Desisto, 16, all died at the scene.
Edwards suffered minor injuries.
Before the accident, the teen was driving at up to 147km/h and filmed himself swerving the vehicle from side to side, while at one point he also overtook a car on the wrong side of the road.
He lost control travelling at 118km/h in a 60km/h zone, according to court documents.
The dual-cab ute slammed into one tree, rebounded, spun backwards and slammed into another during the crash.
The second collision tore open the rear cabin, throwing four of the five teenagers onto the ground.
Neighbours heard a "massive explosion" and raced to the scene where they saw Edwards climb out of the wreckage.
"I'm gonna go to jail. I can't go to jail. I don't want to go to jail," he was heard saying.
He later told police he had picked up Antonio, Gabby, Tyrese and Summer but had no idea how Lily ended up in his car.
He claimed the vehicle had experienced shaking previously, saying it would randomly pick up speed.
Forensic checks showed no defects that could have contributed to the crash.
Edwards has no prior criminal history but had his licence suspended twice for speeding, copping a $285 fine on each occasion.
Australian Associated Press
