Joshua William Armstrong, now 21, was behind the wheel of a BMW sedan that slammed into a large gum tree, killing his close mate in June 2015. 

Armstrong was driving 40km/h above the speed limit and had alcohol in his bloodstream when he lost control of the car, resulting in the death of 18-year-old Peter Phillip Murray. 

In Wagga District Court this week, the Dubbo man pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death.

According to documents tendered to the court, Armstrong was dropped at Romano’s with friends on June 13, where he consumed three to four midi-sized glasses of “goon juice”. 

At about 2.30am, Armstrong and Mr Murray, both studying at Charles Sturt University, went for a drive down Pine Gully Road at Estella. 

Armstrong was driving about 110km/h in the 70km/h area when he hit the kerb and started travelling on the wrong side of the road. 

He attempted to correct and lost traction, losing control of the car, which began to rotate in a clockwise direction before hitting the tree. 

Mr Murray died at the scene while Armstrong was transported to Wagga Base Hospital with serious injuries. 

Armstrong’s defence counsel, John Nicholls, said it was in dispute that his client had passed and therefore observed the speed limit sign. 

Crown prosecutor Paul Kerr requested the case be adjourned to speak to witnesses about Armstrong’s travel habits.

“The fastest route would’ve been to pass the 70 km/h sign,” he said. 

“When police spoke to him that night he said he was coming back from Romano’s. 

“The most direct route would be Pine Gully Road.” 

Judge Gordon Lerve said it was a “considerable dispute” that needed to be resolved to assess Armstrong’s moral culpability. 

The case was originally set to go before a jury before the trial was aborted on June 14 last year due to an expert evidence conflict. Armstrong was charged on September 30, 2015. A sentencing date is yet to be confirmed.