Hobart, Tasmania – Elena Anita Begovic, the driver responsible for the death of 12-year-old Marshall Oakley-Stagg, has been granted a restricted driver’s licence by the Hobart Magistrates Court, effective immediately. The decision, delivered on Friday, February 20, 2026, allows Begovic to resume driving under specific conditions, nearly two years after the fatal incident.
Marshall Oakley-Stagg died in April 2024 after being struck by Begovic’s car outside Cosgrove High School while walking with friends. Begovic was sentenced in December 2025 to a two-year wholly suspended prison sentence and a 12-month driving disqualification after being found guilty of negligent driving causing death. The suspended sentence remains in place, according to Magistrate Robert Webster.
Magistrate Webster outlined the parameters of the restricted licence, permitting Begovic to drive only to and from work, transport her children to and from the bus stop, collect them from school in emergency situations and obtain necessary medications. He emphasized the significant hardship a continued driving ban would impose on Begovic and her family, citing her employment and the complex medical needs of her children.
“In this case, without a licence, since of where she lives and because she has nobody else to drive her, she would not be able to carry out duties of employment,” Magistrate Webster stated in court. “Nor would she be able to care for her children, who have special needs. Without any income, she cannot purchase food for the family, she cannot attend to her children’s complex medical needs. Should she not have a licence, she and her children will suffer severe and unusual hardship.”
The prosecution did not oppose the application for a restricted licence. Magistrate Webster noted Begovic’s prior traffic record was minimal, consisting of two traffic infringement notices. He expressed confidence that Begovic would not pose a danger to other road users or pedestrians, describing the incident as a “momentary lapse of judgment” with catastrophic consequences.
The magistrate estimated Begovic would drive approximately 11 hours per week under the restrictions, primarily for work and family obligations, and stipulated that all journeys must take the shortest, most practical route.
The outcome has resurfaced grief for the Oakley-Stagg family. Following the initial sentencing in December 2025, Marshall’s mother, Karina Stagg, expressed her devastation, stating, “She has destroyed our lives and we will never be the same.” She also called for changes to the legal system regarding vehicular crimes, lamenting a lack of justice for her family.
The decision comes as the Tasmanian government continues to review road safety protocols following a series of incidents involving pedestrian and school-aged children. No further statement has been released by the Tasmanian Department of Justice regarding the granting of the restricted licence.