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Psych report ordered over fatal SA crash

Tim DorninAAP
Senior SA Police officer Joanne Shanahan was one of two women killed in a road crash in April 2020.
Camera IconSenior SA Police officer Joanne Shanahan was one of two women killed in a road crash in April 2020.

A second expert report will be prepared into the mental health of an Adelaide man charged over a road crash that killed two people, including a senior South Australian police officer.

Harrison Kitt came before the South Australian District Court on Friday where he pleaded not guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of causing harm.

The charges against the 20-year-old relate to a three-car crash at suburban Urrbrae in April last year which killed Detective Chief Superintendent Joanne Shanahan, 55, and Tania McNeill, 53.

Supt Shanahan was a passenger in a car driven by her husband Peter, a former police detective.

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Ms McNeill was driving a second car and Kitt the third vehicle involved.

As part of the allegations against him, Kitt is accused of driving at excessive speed at the time of the crash.

Defence counsel David Edwardson QC indicated previously that a defence of mental incompetence was to be advanced.

Mr Edwardson said Kitt had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, with manic episodes and psychotic features.

On Friday, Judge Paul Muscat ordered Kitt be examined by another psychiatrist and a second report into his mental health at the time of the crash be prepared.

Kitt was remanded on continuing bail to return to court in April.

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