A father is reeling after learning the car used to kill his son in a hit and run at Prospect Vale might be sold on the mainland.
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Dale Watson died after being mowed down on a footpath by Joshua Josef Barker on March 9 last year.
Barker faced a Launceston Supreme Court trial in September, with the jury only taking 40 minutes to unanimously find him guilty of fatality hitting Mr Watson with his Ford Ranger ute, but the 31-year-old was deemed not criminally liable for his actions because he was insane at the time.
Mr Watson and Barker had never met.
Dale's father Terry sat through all seven days of the trial, learning his son's cause of death during the proceedings.
Barker mounted a kerb in his Ford Ranger on the corner of Burrows and Knox streets, hit Mr Watson from behind and propelled his body 14 metres.
The pain and trauma of Mr Watson's death has been exacerbated for Terry, who recently learned through a letter from Attorney-General Elise Archer that the Barker family plan to sell the ute on the mainland if it is returned to them.
"I can't understand how the family would want to sell the car. I don't think it should be sold, it should be crushed," Terry said.
"They're worried about losing a car, so what, I've lost a son."
THE TRIAL
In a letter to Bass MHR Bridget Archer on October 28, the Attorney-General said she'd been advised that the Director of Public Prosecutions office had discussed with Mr Barker's lawyer Evan Hughes how the car should be disposed of if it was returned to the family.
"... it was agreed that if the car was released to Mr Barker's family, arrangements would be made to have it sold interstate," the Attorney-General said in letter seen by The Examiner.
"At present the car is in the custody of the coroner, who has the discretion to make a number of orders as to how and to whom it should be disposed."
Barker's lawyer, Mr Hughes, said he was discussing and working collaboratively with the DPP to determine the future of the car.
"The family is very conscious of the issues surrounding the car and don't wish to cause any distress or concern to the family of the victim," he said.
A Justice Department spokesman said property was returned to the registered owner once the matter or investigation had been completed.
Families opposing the release of property can write to the coroner.
Barker will appear in the Launceston Supreme Court for sentencing under the Criminal Justice (Mental Impairment) Act 1999 on November 18.