Woman charged in NSW river crash tied to stepfather romance

A 23-year-old woman has been charged months after a fatal river crash that killed two men in northern New South Wales. Tarliah Defina was arrested at her Glen Innes home on Thursday and appeared in court on Friday, facing multiple charges linked to the March 26 incident. Defina, who reportedly was in a relationship with her stepfather at the time, has yet to enter a plea.

The crash occurred on Droneys Bridge Road when a lime green Ford Falcon XR6 left the roadway and plunged into the Richmond River at Fairy Hill, near Casino. The occupants, Tristan “Tizzy” English and Jordan Chetcuti, both 26, were killed in the wreck. Defina, the sole survivor, managed to escape from the submerged vehicle with minor scratches and, according to authorities, ran about 2 kilometers to a nearby property to raise the alarm. Police and emergency crews retrieved the two men’s bodies from the vehicle after it sank.

Police allege Defina was driving the car at the time of the crash and was disqualified from holding a license. The car reportedly left the road, struck a fence and a post, then rolled into the bridge before entering the river, resulting in the deaths of the two men. CCTV footage is said to show Defina in the driver's seat prior to the collision, and forensic analysis has been cited by prosecutors as confirming the seating position. In addition to dangerous driving occasioning death—drive manner dangerous and negligent driving (occasioning death)—Defina faces a charge of driving a motor vehicle during a disqualification period.

Defence counsel Greg Coomb challenged the prosecution to prove Defina was the driver and to meet the high threshold required for dangerous driving. The defence version contends that the driver identity remains unresolved. Prosecutors told the Bail Division Court that the case relies on witness evidence, the CCTV images, and forensic findings; they also highlighted Defina’s prior traffic offences, including driving unlicensed or with an expired licence and driving while illicit drugs were detected in her system. She was granted bail under strict conditions, including residence at her Glen Innes address, a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., and reporting to police three times per week. She is prohibited from consuming alcohol or illicit drugs, with random checks permitted, and cannot occupy the driver’s seat of any motor vehicle.

The two men who died were identified by local authorities as Tristan English and Jordan Chetcuti, both 26. English, known by the nickname “Tizzy,” and Chetcuti had been described by friends and family as close companions. A relative of one of the deceased urged police to push the investigation forward, saying they had been told that likely charges would not be laid until investigators had their “ducks in a row.” A local source noted that Defina’s relationships have been a topic of discussion in the community, including her described bond with her stepfather, Adam Richards, who is identified in local reporting as having played a significant role in her life after she became estranged from her mother.

Jordan Chetcuti had recently been released from jail about a week before the crash and was reportedly preparing to celebrate his 27th birthday. The circumstances surrounding the crash—and Defina’s involvement—have drawn renewed attention from residents and authorities in the Casino area as investigators pursue additional evidence and determine whether more charges will follow.

Authorities have emphasized that no pleas have been entered by Defina, and the court process is ongoing. The incident remains a focal point for discussions about road safety, disqualification enforcement, and the broader social dynamics surrounding the case in this rural NSW community.