Man who botched suicide and killed two people faces court

A South Australian man who tried to commit suicide instead killed two people after purposely veering his 4WD head on into their vehicle.

Despite Michael Frank Knowles, 37, admitting during a Supreme Court hearing yesterday to causing the deaths of James Moore and Natasha Turnbull, both aged 24, in December 2014, he pleaded not guilty to murder, The Advertiser reports.

Mr Moore and Ms Turnbull were killed instantly when their car collided head on with Mr Knowles' vehicle.

The 37-year-old survived the accident with serious injuries.

Prosecutor Mark Norman said the Whyalla man told his ex-girldfiend Teri Gelligan he was going to kill himself by driving into a truck after their relationship broke down.

"When she refused to let him stay the night, he stormed off, only to return a few minutes later, stating 'I want one last hug before I go and do this'," Mr Norman told the court.

Knowles, who was intoxicated at the time, made several erratic Facebook posts before the fatal accident including one that simply read: "The pain ends now."

The prosecutor said the 37-year-old would have been aware his actions would result in serious injury to an innocent driver.

"Instead of choosing to drive into a tree or a rock or a brick wall, or even an empty parked car, he chose to drive straight into Mr Moore’s Pajero, no doubt expecting to die," Mr Norman said.

Knowles’ lawyer Phil Crowe said while there was no doubt his client caused the deaths of Mr Moore and Ms Turnbull, the updated charge to murder should not be applied due to his state of mind at the time of the accident.

The trial continues.