Rachel Connell used to love giving her tiny grandson, Johnray Best-Sheals, baths and having “bubble time” with him.
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On Monday, she was in the Burnie Magistrates Court to hear Johnray’s father pleading guilty to causing the deaths of Johnray and his mother, 16-year-old Hayley Best, by negligent driving in a highway crash at Wynyard.
Andrew John Sheals drove into the path of a truck on the Bass Hwy at the Deep Creek Rd intersection in June 2016.
Ms Best and Johnray died in hospital afterwards.
In the court on Monday, Sheals pleaded guilty to two counts of causing the death of another person by negligent driving.
He also pleaded guilty to one count each of disobeying a give way sign, being a learner driver unaccompanied by a licensed driver and failing to display L plates so as to be clearly visible.
He is yet to enter a plea on one count of using a vehicle in contravention of vehicle standards, requirements for safe and roadworthy condition.
Sheals’ lawyer, Katie Edwards, told Magistrate Tamara Jago she was having a report prepared relating to that count, so a plea could be entered at Sheals’ next appearance.
Ms Jago bailed Sheals to appear at a sentencing hearing on June 26.
Sheals was 19 at the time of the crash.
Despite the heartbreak, Ms Connell was able to find some solace in her memories.
“With Johnray, I had the best two months on earth with him,” she said.
She said Hayley was a “very happy child” and she had been surprised by all the well wishes she received after the crash, which made her aware how many lives her daughter had touched.
“It’s been hard every day,” she said.
“Easter was especially hard.
“It was Johnray’s first birthday; it would have been.
“You feel terrible in yourself.
“You miss them every day ...”
She said she felt a little relieved by Sheals’ guilty pleas, and they made the next stage “a bit easier to take”.
“ … it will never bring my daughter and grandson back.”
Outside the court, a man who was with Sheals raised a finger towards media representatives and family members of Ms Best.
There was also yelling from the car the men were in as they left the area.