Former Channel 7 reporter’s fall from grace
A former Channel 7 reporter’s fall from grace has seen him end up homeless, addicted to drugs, and killing his best friend while driving under the influence.
Trent Evans appeared in the Victorian County court where he pleaded guilty to culpable driving causing death following a car crash on February 27, 2021 that killed his friend Rex Willox.
The 45-year-old’s guilty plea marked the end of what his lawyer Rahmin de Krester described as “descent into absolute chaos”.
In just two years, Evans went from managing newsrooms at Seven and Ten before his life spiralled out of control due to the pressures of his job while working on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast.
Evans tried to take control of his life and quit the network job in 2017 to work at a local Melbourne newspaper. But things continued to spiral.
Mr de Krester said his client’s life was in a downward spiral for five years.
“He became more and more unstable with drug use. His life had descended into absolute chaos,” he told the court, news.com.au reported.
The court heard that Evans and Mr Willox were drinking champagne at Mr Willox’s house before deciding to head off to Evans’ short-term motel in Parkville.
Evans was unfit to drive but still got behind the wheel of Mr Willox’s black Mercedes sedan to begin the trip back to his temporary home.
The pair were driving along Barkley Ave in Burnley when Evans attempted to turn right while doing 40km/h above the limit.
He lost control of the vehicle which flipped and ploughed into a timber pole that saw Mr Willox die at the scene.
Evans returned a blood alcohol reading of 0.13 and spent three nights in hospital before he was finally questioned by police.
A search of Mr Willox’s home found three empty bottles of champagne.
Investigations began and it was found that Evans was attempting the right hand turn at a shocking speed of 113km/h in a 60km/h zone.
Mr Willox’s sister provided a victim impact statement following his death saying she was struggling to find the words for her loss.
Evan’s lawyer said his client accept that he was “broken man” who will “carry the responsibility for Rex Willox’s death for the rest of his life.”
Mr de Krester said Evans “never recovered” and from 2018 was seeking help for homelessness but continued to succumb to drug use.
Judge Gregory Lyon will sentence Evans on July 11.
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