Cop tells court that Dad's car was not out of control when children drowned (Geelong, Victoria, Australia)

We've posted on dad ROBERT FARQUHARSON many times before. He is currently on trial for murdering his children during visitation.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2010/05/25/176441_news.html

ROBERT FARQUHARSON RETRIAL: Cop tells court car was not out of control
Aleks Devic
May 25th, 2010

THE car being driven by accused child murderer Robert Farquharson was not out of control when it veered off the highway and into a Winchelsea dam, a court heard.

The Supreme Court was told yesterday the car clipped a tree before plunging 7m into a dam on Father's Day 2005.

The jury was also played a video of a submergence test, which showed a car, similar to Mr Farquharson's Holden sedan, nose-dive and fill with water almost immediately after the driver's side door was opened for only seconds.

Jai, 10, Tyler, 7, and Bailey, 2, died after their father escaped a sinking car while they remained trapped inside.

Mr Farquharson, 41, has pleaded not guilty to his sons' murders arguing the car drove off the Princes Highway after he suffered a coughing fit that caused him to black out.

Sergeant Rohan Courtis told the court yesterday he walked along the Princes Highway and also took a path off the road searching for any tyre marks.

He also said there was no evidence the car had collided with a railing on the road.

"If there were any marks on that road it would have been pretty clear to see, but I could not see any marks on that road of any loss of control or any skidding," Sgt Courtis said.

"I was looking for black marks or scrape marks."

Sgt Courtis said he questioned Mr Farquharson in Geelong Hospital about two hours after the September 4 incident and did not hear the accused's voice quiver when he was speaking about how he tried to save his boys.

"He was co-operative, he wasn't distressed, he wasn't crying," he said.

"He was very matter-of-fact in what he was saying to me. It was like me having a conversation with you now."

Another policeman, Sergeant Brendon Boseley, who was also at the hospital, said Mr Farquharson asked him several times what would happen to him.

"He lifted his feet up and he thumped them on the rear of the trolley a number of times," Sgt Boseley said.

"I took that as he was distraught in relation to why he was there and also what was going to happen to him."

Police diver, Sergeant Rebecca Cassidy, said the car was pulled from the dam with the three boys inside.

She said the driver's side door was open when she reached the car.

The trial before Justice Lex Lasry continues.