As a result of this misunderstanding, Mr Robilliard’s first report concluded that it was impossible for the lever to be in when the transmission was in In ‘Park’ ‘Reverse’. fact Mr Robilliard removed two bushes as part of his test to provide a case ‘worse scenario’, but the conclusion was the same (exhibit C10, p7). This obviously did not sit well with the clear evidence of Dr Koh, and Mr McDonald. Mrs Cornish’s vehicle was then located, and with the kind assistance of the RAA, was transported to their workshop and examined. The vehicle had been driven a further 12,000 kilometres since Mrs Cornish’s accident. It was confirmed that when the lever was in the position, the transmission was ‘Park’ in Further inspection revealed that the two bushes Mr Robilliard had ‘Reverse’. removed in his earlier testing were indeed missing, and a third bush was worn to the point of being useless. He said this was not apparent until the linkage was dismantled (exhibit C10a, p3). It was the absence of all three bushes which produced the result that when the lever in the cabin was moved to the position, the transmission ‘Park’ selector lever did not move the required distance, and remained in the ‘Reverse’ position. When the bushes were replaced, and the system adjusted correctly, this defect disappeared. Mr Robilliard also tested the automatic choke on Mrs Cornish’s vehicle, and found that the engine speed when started cold was 1480rpm, and rose steadily to 1930rpm after 1.5 minutes, then fell back to 1600rpm after 4.0 minutes. The photographs of the vehicle taken by Senior Constable Wynne indicate that it was in good condition and well cared for. Mr Gregory Turnbull, an experienced and qualified motor mechanic, stated that he fitted a new engine to the vehicle in July 1997, and serviced it in September 1997. He serviced in again in April 1998. He said: (were) no gear shift problems at that stage.’ ‘There (Exhibit C6a, p1) Mr Turnbull said that he had been aware of the problem, and that he checked Mrs Cornish’s gear shift linkage bushes movement and gear shift operation from ‘for inside the car’. He said it would be for the bushes to have broken down in ‘feasible’ the 6 months since he serviced the car (exhibit C6a, p2).
As a result of this misunderstanding, Mr Robilliard’s first report concluded that it was impossible for the lever to be in ‘Park’ when the transmission was in ‘Reverse’. In fact Mr Robilliard removed two bushes as part of his test to provide a ‘worse case scenario’, but the conclusion was the same (exhibit C10, p7). This obviously did not sit well with the clear evidence of Dr Koh, and Mr McDonald. Mrs Cornish’s vehicle was then located, and with the kind assistance of the RAA, was transported to their workshop and examined. The vehicle had been driven a further 12,000 kilometres since Mrs Cornish’s accident. It was confirmed that when the lever was in the ‘Park’ position, the transmission was in ‘Reverse’. Further inspection revealed that the two bushes Mr Robilliard had removed in his earlier testing were indeed missing, and a third bush was worn to the point of being useless. He said this was not apparent until the linkage was dismantled (exhibit C10a, p3). It was the absence of all three bushes which produced the result that when the lever in the cabin was moved to the ‘Park’ position, the transmission selector lever did not move the required distance, and remained in the ‘Reverse’ position. When the bushes were replaced, and the system adjusted correctly, this defect disappeared. Mr Robilliard also tested the automatic choke on Mrs Cornish’s vehicle, and found that the engine speed when started cold was 1480rpm, and rose steadily to 1930rpm after 1.5 minutes, then fell back to 1600rpm after 4.0 minutes. The photographs of the vehicle taken by Senior Constable Wynne indicate that it was in good condition and well cared for. Mr Gregory Turnbull, an experienced and qualified motor mechanic, stated that he fitted a new engine to the vehicle in July 1997, and serviced it in September 1997. He serviced in again in April 1998. He said: ‘There (were) no gear shift problems at that stage.’ (Exhibit C6a, p1) Mr Turnbull said that he had been aware of the problem, and that he checked Mrs Cornish’s gear shift linkage bushes ‘for movement and gear shift operation from inside the car’. He said it would be ‘feasible’ for the bushes to have broken down in the 6 months since he serviced the car (exhibit C6a, p2).
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