AFL player pleads guilty to manslaughter

Former AFL player Shannon John Cox has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after causing a devastating car crash in Western Australia's Wheatbelt that claimed the lives of two elderly women.

Cox, 39, was initially charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death following the fatal head-on collision in Cooljarloo, about 170km north of Perth, on June 7. The crash involved his Toyota Prado, a Volvo road train towing two trailers, and a Suzuki Ignis on Brand Highway.

Close friends Thelma Clausen, 82, and Coral Seinor, 83, who were in the Suzuki, tragically died at the scene. The driver of the road train, a 31-year-old man, was unharmed. Cox’s 12-year-old daughter, who was also in his vehicle, sustained injuries in the crash.

Emergency services, including five St John ambulances and two RAC Rescue helicopters, responded to the incident. However, the helicopters were later stood down.

Cox's charges were later upgraded to unlawfully killing in circumstances not constituting murder. He pleaded guilty to the revised charges in Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court on Wednesday, appearing via video link from Greenough Regional Prison.

The court has ordered pre-sentence and psychological reports ahead of his sentencing, scheduled for August 26.

Images: WA Police