Robert Dwayne Watson: Alleged-drug driver accused of fatal crash has charge upgraded to manslaughter

A man accused of causing the death of another man in a serious crash on Albany Highway in Narrikup last year has been charged with manslaughter, while one of his previous charges has been discontinued. Robert Dwayne Watson, 53, appeared in Albany Magistrates Court on Thursday, where prosecutors made significant changes to the charges against him relating to a fatal crash in Narrikup last April. A 30-year-old man died at the scene of the April 24 crash, after the Nissan Micra he was driving allegedly collided with Mr Watson’s Holden Rodeo utility at about 6.30am. Police, St John WA, Albany Career Fire and Rescue Service and Mt Barker Volunteer Fire and Rescue Service attended the crash but the 30-year-old died from his injuries at the scene. Mr Watson was taken to Albany Health Campus with serious injuries and later charged with dangerous driving causing death in circumstances of aggravation, driving while impaired by drugs and driving while his licence was suspended. He is also facing an unrelated charge of dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm under the influence of drugs after an alleged incident in Wattle Grove on December 9, 2024, which he pleaded not guilty to on September 11. He has not yet entered pleas to the three charges relating to the alleged incident in Narrikup. Police prosecutor Sgt Gary Simpson applied to discontinue the charge of dangerous driving causing death in circumstances of aggravation against Mr Watson, requesting to replace it with a new charge of unlawfully killing another under such circumstances as not to constitute murder. Magistrate Rosemarie Myers accepted both applications. Defence lawyer Wendy Stewart said Mr Watson’s grant of aid was being transferred to a Perth lawyer and asked for his case to be transferred to Perth for the rest of his hearings. His case was transferred to Stirling Gardens Magistrate Court, with his next appearance on February 18.