Former Collingwood player Shannon John Cox faces manslaughter charges over crash

A former AFL player is facing two manslaughter charges over a crash that killed two elderly women in Western Australia’s Wheatbelt. Shannon John Cox, 38, appeared in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court via video link from prison over a double fatality that occurred on the Brand Highway in Cooljarlo 170km north of Perth, about 9am on June 9. Mr Cox was initially charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing death, but those charges were upgraded to manslaughter when he faced the Geraldton Magistrates Court in July. Police allege Mr Cox was behind the wheel of a Toyota Prado travelling south when it collided with a Suzuki Ignis hatchback travelling north. A white Volvo road train towing two trailers travelling northbound was also involved in the crash, near the intersection of Waddi Rd. Two women – an 82-year-old driver and her 83-year-old passenger – travelling in the hatchback died at the scene. A 12-year-old girl was also injured during the incident. Mr Cox and the 31-year-old male driver of the Volvo truck were not injured in the crash. The state prosecutor advised the court they were ready to move the case to the higher Supreme Court, but Mr Cox’s lawyer failed to show up at the hearing. Magistrate Jan Whitbread told Mr Cox she was not prepared to take a plea from him without his lawyer present and remanded him in custody to face the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court again on December 11. Mr Cox played 25 games for the Magpies before he retired from the AFL in 2009.