Woman in court over crash at Sydney school

Maha Al-Shennag was surrounded by a small group of supporters as she left her first court appearance after being charged over a fatal crash at a Sydney school.

Maha Al-Shennag (L) leaves Bankstown Local Court

Maha Al-Shennag (L) has faced court over a crash at a Sydney school that killed two boys. (AAP)

A single mother charged over a Sydney primary school crash that killed two children and injured others will not be allowed to drive while she remains on bail.

Maha Al-Shennag has also surrendered her Australian and Jordanian passports and must report to a police station three times a week under the bail she was granted after the crash on November 7, according to court documents.

It's alleged Jihad Darwiche, eight, and a nine-year-old classmate were killed when a Toyota Kluger driven by Al-Shennag ploughed into their classroom at Banksia Road Public School in Greenacre.

The 52-year-old, who court documents say has three dependent children, was surrounded by supporters, and shielded herself with an umbrella as she left a brief first appearance at Bankstown Local Court on Wednesday.

She did not enter a plea and was excused from appearing at the matter's next scheduled mention at Burwood on February 21.

Al-Shennag is charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death and one count of negligent driving occasioning death.

She's also charged with causing bodily harm by misconduct and dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm in relation to two other injured people.

Earlier this month she apologised to victims of the crash after the father of Jihad Darwiche publicly forgave her in a video via Facebook.

"Ms Al-Shennag wishes to apologise with all of her heart to Mr Darwiche and to each of the victims, their families and the community in general," her lawyer Nick Hanna said in a statement on November 10.

"Her thoughts and prayers are with all of those affected by this tragedy."


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Source: AAP



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