Brit backpacker ‘who mowed down dad on e-scooter following six-hour pub session' appears in court as she faces 20 years
Alicia Kemp, 25, was charged over the horror smash that left 51-year-old Thanh Phan with fatal head injuries in June.
4
4
The psychology graduate from Redditch, Worcestershire, is accused of striking Mr Phan from behind while speeding down a footpath in Perth with a friend on board as a passenger.
The dad-of-two was rushed to hospital but tragically died of a brain bleed days later.
The Brit had been drinking for six hours before the crash, reports The Sydney Morning Herald.
Kemp was charged with dangerous driving causing death under the influence of alcohol, as well as dangerous driving causing bodily harm under the influence of alcohol.
The 25-year-old, who is yet to enter a plea, appeared on Tuesday at Perth Magistrates' Court on video, court officials said.
Kemp was denied bail at a hearing in June.
She was remanded in custody in Australia until her case returns to court on 11 August for legal argument.
Prosecutors previously said Kemp had a blood alcohol content of 0.158 when she 'careered into his back' at up to 25km/h as the dad stood at a crossing on a Saturday night in June.
The court heard walkers had to 'take evasive action' to avoid Kemp's 'inexplicably dangerous' riding, which was captured on CCTV.
Her 26-year-old passenger also suffered a fractured skull and broken nose.
Moment Brits including woman are beaten and kicked by Turkish 'Mad Boys' bouncers in row over bill and 'insulting flag'
Kemp, who was in Australia on a four-month tourist visa with her partner, had been working at Durty Nelly's Irish Pub in Perth.
She had been drinking with a friend from 2.30pm - who was kicked out of a bar for being too drunk - before they hired the e-scooter just before 8.30pm.
Her bail bid was rejected after a magistrate ruled she posed too great a flight risk.
The magistrate said: "It's a very difficult decision for the court to make. The temptation might be that [she] won't return.
"I can't manage that risk."
Phan's devastated family described him as a 'beloved husband, father-of-two, brother, and dear friend', and are now calling for a crackdown on e-scooter safety laws.
'We also call for a review of the governance and safety regulations surrounding hired e-scooters to help prevent further serious incidents that put lives at risk,' they said in a statement.
In a statement released through police, Phan's grieving family pleaded for privacy and called on authorities to tighten e-scooter hire regulations.
'We also call for a review of the governance and safety regulations surrounding hired e-scooters to help prevent further serious incidents that put lives at risk,' they said.
The charge of dangerous driving causing death carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.
And under Western Australian law, e-scooter riders have to wear a helmet, be sober, carry no passengers and be over 16 years old.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
24 minutes ago
- BBC News
Aalia Mahomed's brother says Strand crash victim was 'amazing'
"My sister was amazing. Really smart, loving, funny - though I'd never say it to her."These are the words of Aalia Mahomed's brother, 18 March, Ms Mahomed, from Mitcham, south London, was struck by a van which drove through closed gates and hit the bench she was sitting on in a pedestrianised area outside King's College London (KCL) on The was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision on 18 March 2025, which left three others Metropolitan Police said a 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and he remains on Mahomed was in her second year studying for a BSc in physics and philosophy at Thursday, about 40 friends, family members and people from KCL gathered to pay tribute to the student, who was also honoured earlier in the day at a graduation ceremony at the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank. Mr Mahomed and his mother Samira Shafi collected her posthumously awarded degree."If I'm being honest, I wish I could say I was happy to be at the ceremony today but it was painful, she should have been up there getting her award. As much as it hurt, it was handled really well," he people there were dressed in green, her favourite colour, and stood with their eyes closed or heads were visibly emotional and hugged one another for support, and a minute's silence was Rev Dr Ellen Clark-King, dean of KCL, told those gathered: "We mourn today the potential of all that she would have become, her lost future, as well as the loss of all that she was."The family told BBC London they had launched a project, called Be More Aalia, to build a high school in Malawi, where they have roots. Joseph Knight, a close friend of Ms Mahomed, was sitting on a bench next to her when she was hit by the van. He was not injured and said that came down to a decision to sit to the left or right. He told BBC London: "It was an emotional day, bittersweet. It just makes me think what could have been, all of her dreams wasted. "It's been tough for everyone here, we're laden with grief."He added: "She lit up a room with her smile, her laugh. She looked for the light in everyone and is really missed."Bianca Godinho, also a good friend, said: "She was really funny, she was a light. The strength that her mum and brother have shown has been incredible."Another close friend, Iman Khan, told BBC London: "We shared so many memories together. She was so loyal, she was always there for me - the perfect friend." During the remembrance for Ms Mahomed, solicitor Trevor Sterling called for justice to be delivered to the said: "We need to make sure that we achieve justice without delay, and that the right level of justice is achieved, the right charges are brought, and only then will the family be able to move forward."He said there was frustration over the fact that no charges had been brought almost five months Sterling added: "The wheels of justice are slow, and inevitably there is frustration. The family and those affected have been patient."Ch Supt Thomas Naughton, from the Met Police, said: "Aalia's family continue to be supported by specialist officers, we regularly meet with them to discuss the progress of the investigation and to ensure they are receiving the support they need."Our investigation continues at pace and we are working closely with the Crown Prosecution Service." Additional reporting by PA Media
The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Family call for justice for student who died after being hit by van near campus
Police have been told not to test the patience of a family whose daughter was killed after being hit by a van near her university campus, as friends say justice still has not been served. Aalia Mahomed, 20, died and three others were injured in the crash outside the King's College London (KCL) campus in the Strand, central London, on March 18. A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and he remains on bail. During a memorial held on Thursday by family and friends on what would have been the student's graduation, solicitor Trevor Sterling called for justice to be delivered to the family 'without any further delay'. He told the PA news agency: 'It's been a day of mixed emotions. 'This was a day which was meant to be a day in the future, a day of celebration when Aalia was to receive her degree. 'We need to make sure that we achieve justice without delay, and that the right level of justice is achieved, the right charges are brought, and only then will the family be able to move forward. 'We acknowledge that there are a number of people involved in this incident, a number of witnesses and many others that were injured, and of course, there were secondary investigations in terms of the vehicle, etc. 'What we hope is that those investigations have now concluded and that we reach a point where there is a charge, or a charge is brought in the imminent future, and that from a civil claim process, there are no spurious arguments raised as regards insurance cover.' He said there was frustration over the fact that no charges have been brought almost five months after the incident. Mr Sterling added: 'The wheels of justice are slow, and inevitably there is frustration. The family and those affected have been patient. 'What we ask is that their patience isn't tested, and that we reach a conclusion as soon as possible, so the families and those affected can move forwards in the best way they can, which is to not be reminded of this tragic incident over and over again, because there are investigations in the background.' His words were echoed by Joseph Knight, 20, a physics student and friend of Ms Mahomed who was there when she died. He told the PA news agency: ' Justice hasn't been served because an innocent, beautiful soul has passed for no reason whatsoever, somewhere she should have been safe, on a college campus, pedestrianised area, somewhere she loved. 'So until who is responsible, and there is someone responsible, is brought to justice, then [it hasn't been served].' At the memorial, Ms Mahomed's younger brother, Zain Mahomed, unveiled a plaque underneath a cherry blossom planted in her memory, which read: 'In loving memory of our forever shining star, Aalia Mohamed. A beloved daughter, sister, philosopher, physicist and friend. November 4 2004 to March 18 2025.' He said: 'My sister was amazing. She was really smart, lovely, funny. 'I wish I could say something nice about the ceremony today. I wish I could say I was happy to be here, but it's painful. 'She should have been the one out there getting that award. 'She worked harder for that award than anyone else I knew.' About 40 friends, family members and people from KCL gathered to pay tribute to the student, who was also honoured earlier on Thursday at a graduation ceremony in the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank. Many were dressed in green, her favourite colour, and stood with their eyes closed or heads bowed. Some were visibly emotional and hugged one another for support and a minute's silence was held. People took it in turns to walk up and look at the inscription in silence, and her mother, Samira Shafi, was given her honorary degree certificate, awarded posthumously. Rev Dr Ellen Clark-King, the dean of KCL, told the crowd: 'We mourn today the potential of all that she would have become, her lost future, as well as the loss of all that she was.' The family has launched a campaign to build a high school in Malawi in honour of Aalia, to be called Be More Aalia.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Disturbing details emerge about mother who hid pregnancy from her partner then put the baby in a garbage bag behind a lounge
A woman who hid the fact she was pregnant until her partner found the baby's discarded body in a plastic bag behind their sofa has fronted court. Monique Ellen Burton, 35, was charged with interfering with a corpse after her newborn baby boy died on August 19, 2022. She appeared in Perth District Court this week. The court heard Burton gave birth in her house and wrapped the baby in clothing before hiding him behind the piece of furniture. She said he was stillborn and an investigation was unable to determined if the baby had taken a first breath. Her partner later discovered what he guessed was baby but, instead of checking what was in the bag, he put it unopened in a freezer in the backyard of their property in Geraldton, Western Australia. It was later found by police after she went to hospital and medical staff found evidence she had given birth, reported the ABC. Her defence lawyer, Anthony Elliot, told the court she had suffered from emotional anxiety which was linked with pregnancies. A psychological report revealed Burton suffered from adjustment disorder, depressive episodes, unresolved grief, relationship difficulties and anxiety. State prosecutor Jehna Winter said Burton hid the pregnancy from her partner, Shaun Bradley Balaam, medical staff and the authorities. She had explained her stomach bloating was just a side effect of liver cirrhosis to help conceal the fact she was carrying a child, the court heard. Burton was also charged with 11 counts of fraud after she set up a GoFundMe page asking for donations because of a made-up illness. She accepted $560 in donations from strangers before her scheme was exposed. He partner woke up the morning after the birth to find his partner of 14 years pale and bloody in the bathroom and she was taken to hospital. Nursing staff noticed she was suffering post-partum symptoms but Burton denied having given birth recently. During this time Balaam returned home to search for a mobile phone his mother had lost, which was when the baby was discovered. The court was told Balaam did not check inside the bag but had held a suspicion that it may have been a baby as his partner had a history of concealing pregnancies. Instead of checking what was inside the bag Mr Balaam placed it in another bag which he then moved to the freezer because he said that was what would happen in a morgue. Burton continued to deny she had given birth even after she was flown to King Edward Memorial Hospital in Perth. 'I don't know what is wrong with me,' she told hospital staff. WA Police then attended her property and found the discarded baby in the freezer. Burton was arrested and interviewed by police in January 2024. She told them her memory was hazy and that she thought it had been a dream. Burton pleaded guilty to interfering with a corpse in the Geraldton Magistrates Court in November 2024.
