A trucking company owner has pleaded not guilty to killing one of his drivers and endangering the lives of two others by failing to maintain the vehicle's brakes.
Peter Francis Colbert, 55, of Athol Park in Adelaide, pleaded not guilty in the Supreme Court to the manslaughter of Robert Brimson, 45.
The Salisbury father of two was killed when the truck he was driving crashed into a road sign at Happy Valley on March 7.
Colbert also pleaded not guilty to endangering the lives of two other drivers on the same day, after they earlier drove the truck involved in the fatal crash.
The crown alleges the cause of the crash was brake failure and Mr Brimson's deliberate actions in swerving to avoid a collision saved the lives of other drivers.
The District Court has previously been told that manslaughter through gross negligence was a very unusual charge and such a matter had not before been tried in South Australia.
The case was adjourned to February 27 for a directions hearing.
