Driver on trial for fatal Yellowknife collision tells court she sped up to avoid altercation

A woman on trial for dangerous driving causing death in a fatal collision in 2022 testified in the N.W.T. Supreme Court on Thursday, saying she didn't put much thought into her driving that night.

Hannah Lafferty was charged in connection with the death of 30-year-old Germaine Mantla, who was struck by a vehicle near Bison Hill Apartments in Yellowknife in April 2022.

The N.W.T. Supreme Court trial was in its fourth day on Thursday, with family members of both Lafferty and Mantla present in court all week.

Hannah Lafferty, 24, testified that she was waiting in a vehicle near the apartment building on the night of the collision while her partner, Austin Moore, visited his ex, Ikeda Lafferty. She knew Ikeda, as both were from the same community of Behchokǫ̀, N.W.T.

Hannah says she looked up from her phone and saw Ikeda walking quickly toward the truck, fists clenched. A few moments later, she saw Moore waving for her to leave.

Hannah said she put the truck into drive to avoid a fight, as she had an injured arm at the time.

"I don't know why I didn't lock the door," Hannah told the court.

As the vehicle moved, Ikeda opened the driver's door and grabbed a handle, holding on to it as the truck gained speed.

Hannah said she didn't see anyone else in the parking lot but as the vehicle swerved "like a snake" with the door open, she suddenly saw a person in her way, walking in the same direction. It was Mantla, who was hit by part of the vehicle.

When she stopped, Hannah said, Ikeda punched her twice before walking away.

Hannah told the court she then saw Moore beside Mantla's body, and that she called 911 shortly after.

Mantla was seriously injured in the incident and later died from "severe traumatic brain injury."

During cross-examination on Thursday, Crown prosecutor Andrea Levans asked whether Hannah could have killed or seriously injured Ikeda as she accelerated the vehicle.

Hannah disagreed, saying she only tried to "shake her off" the vehicle by swerving left and right. She told the court she didn't put much thought into her driving at all.

"I was afraid and wanted to get away from Ikeda," Hannah said, though she said Ikeda hadn't made any threats before the incident.

The trial is expected to continue Monday with closing arguments.