Mother's love for a 'genius'

Dr Sean Barrett who was killed in a car crash in Perth in October last year. Source: Supplied

THE mother of a British scientist killed in a horrific Perth car crash has described her son as a "loving genius" whose death has left "unfillable voids in the lives of hundreds of people".

Sean Barrett, 36, was a Cambridge University graduate and a doctor of quantum physics at the Imperial College in London.

He flew into Perth in the early hours of October 19 last year to give a speech on quantum physics at the University of WA, and hopped into a taxi being driven by 28-year-old Kuldeep Singh, a married man who was about to become a dad.

Just minutes after leaving the airport, both Dr Barrett and Mr Singh were killed instantly when a stolen car ran a red light and smashed into their vehicle in Kewdale.

Last week the driver of the stolen car, 24-year-old Antony Edward Fogarty, of Gosnells, pleaded guilty to two counts of manslaughter. He will be sentenced in January.

Desperation as 10,000 feared dead

TORMENTED survivors of a typhoon that may have killed more than 10,000 have been left to rummage for food through debris scattered with corpses.

Joanne Lees almost destroyed case

THE lawyer who prosecuted one of Australia's most notorious killers Bradley John Murdoch reveals the victim's girlfriend almost ruined their case.

Dr Barrett's mother, Jan, told The Sunday Times: "Sean was a kind, funny, caring, loving, genius of a man. In many ways he was a Renaissance man, but was quite capable when home for a stay of surprising me by cooking me a full English breakfast."

Ms Barrett said her son's shock death had put her in a state of "extreme turmoil".

"I cannot now learn to live a life without the physical presence of my son," she said. "My new grandson, born a year after Sean's death, does not now have an uncle. The godchildren no longer have a godfather. Sean's death has left a huge, unfillable void in the lives of hundreds of people."

Ms Barrett, who lives in Manchester, England, said her family were relieved Fogarty had pleaded guilty.

"Sean's family and friends are relieved that after months of turmoil we are coming to the end of this aspect of the entire incident," Ms Barrett said. "We are certain that the sentence will reflect the seriousness of the offending driver's crimes, but however long his sentence is, it will not equal the lifetime of sadness given to all of us and to Kuldeep Singh's family and friends."

Police had been chasing Fogarty in the stolen car but the pursuit was aborted in South Perth, long before the crash occurred. Crew of a police helicopter that continued to follow the stolen car from the air are believed to have filmed the fatal collision.

Pre-sentence and psychological reports will be prepared ahead of Fogarty's sentencing, which has been set down for January 21.