Anil Sharma: South Australian truck driver accused of killing Perth man Chris Baker in hit-run to stand trial

The South Australian truck driver accused of the fatal hit-and-run death of Perth cyclist Chris Barker will stand trial over the incident. Anil Sharma appeared in the WA Supreme Court on Monday where he pleaded not guilty to manslaughter, as well as allegations he wilfully destroyed evidence and that he failed to stop and help the 62-year-old after he was hit. The 37-year-old was allegedly behind the wheel of a road train when he hit Mr Barker, who was cycling in the same direction, on Eyre Highway near Madura, about 180km west of Eucla, near the State border on March 23, 2024. Mr Barker was participating in the Indian Pacific Wheel Ride, a gruelling 5,500 km road cycling event that takes cyclists coast to coast from the Indian Ocean in Fremantle to the Pacific Ocean at the Sydney Opera House. Mr Sharma will next appear in court in September for a bail variation hearing and is expected to stand trial in February next year.