A P-plater charged over the death of a teenage girl has pleaded not guilty to two charges following revelations he is believed to have suffered a brain injury in the relevant crash.
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Apprentice carpenter Ameen Hamdan, 19, has been charged over the early morning smash with culpable driving causing death and contravening the conditions of his driver's licence.
Police allege he drove a car into a tree on Longmore Crescent in Wanniassa on October 31 last year, leaving passenger Alexis Saaghy with life-threatening injuries.
The 16-year-old girl died in hospital three days later.
Legal Aid lawyer Edward Chen told the ACT Magistrates Court in July that there were "serious questions" about Mr Hamdan's fitness to plead, saying he was seeking a neurological assessment.
On Thursday, another lawyer, Elizabeth West, said the concerns were the result of "a suggestion that there was a brain injury sustained in the accident, which may affect the fitness issue".
She entered not guilty pleas to both charges so that a full brief of evidence would be prepared, then tendered a number of documents to the court in support of an application for a lengthy adjournment.
After looking at them, Magistrate Beth Campbell said Mr Hamdan's treating doctor seemed to indicate an opinion that the defendant had suffered a "mild" brain injury and would make a full recovery.
Ms Campbell said the material provided so far would not seem to justify a finding that the 19-year-old was unfit to plead.
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But the court heard Mr Hamdan was booked in for an assessment with a neuropsychological expert, Felicity Leslie, in December.
Prosecutor Tamzin Lee consented to an adjournment until after this time, but noted she would oppose any further delays in the matter.
Ms Campbell agreed with Ms Lee that the case needed to progress, setting it down to return to court on January 17 next year.
"Even if the [neuropsychologist's] report isn't available, she will be able to indicate to someone what the bottom line is," the magistrate said.
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