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Tara Cosoleto

Driver admits killing pedestrian at comic event

A man has admitted to driving into two pedestrians, killing one, at a comic and gaming expo. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

A driver who ploughed through a group outside a popular comic convention has pleaded guilty to killing a pedestrian. 

Awer Dau, 34, appeared in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Tuesday on a video link from prison as he entered pleas over the Supanova incident.

Dau was behind the wheel of the Toyota sedan that mounted the kerb outside the Melbourne Showgrounds event in Ascot Vale about 5pm on April 18.

police near smashed car
Two pedestrians were struck near the popular fan convention event. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

A 20-year-old man died at the scene while another man the same age was seriously injured after being struck by the car. 

A third young man was with the two men but managed to avoid the oncoming vehicle.

Dau was charged with offences including culpable driving causing death, negligently causing serious injury, possessing methamphetamine and failing to render assistance after an accident.

Dressed in a green cap and white long-sleeve shirt, he only spoke during Tuesday's brief hearing to confirm his pleas of guilty to the charges.

He did not apply for bail and was remanded in custody to face a plea hearing at the Victorian County Court in February. 

The fatal collision happened outside the Supanova Comic Con and Gaming Event, a two-day fan convention hosted at the showgrounds.

Thousands of comic and gaming fans flock to the event every year, with the convention adding crowds of visitors to an already-busy area.

Among the 2026 expo's headliners were Stranger Things cast member Jamie Campbell Bower and Andy Serkis, who played Gollum in Peter Jackson's Lord of the Rings film trilogy.

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