“Senseless and cowardly” is how the family of a young mother killed in a hit-run south of Brisbane has described the crime.
According to police, Kiesha Thompson, 23, was hit on purpose by a four-wheel drive on Friday after dropping her daughter off at daycare and making her way home down Allamanda Drive in Daisy Hill.
Hours after Thompson passed away in the hospital, Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant, 24, was charged with her murder.
Today, the family of the young mother released a video statement.
According to Thompson’s aunt Amanda Matthias, “Kiesha Thompson was tragically taken away from us in a horrific and senseless act.”
“She was walking home along the sidewalk after dropping off her infant daughter at daycare when a car that had been waiting for her for some time intentionally hit her.
“We tragically lost Kiesha later that day, despite the first responders’ prompt and valiant measures. “We are deeply grateful for those who worked tirelessly to save her and we are struggling with why anyone would commit such a cruel act.”
According to her brother Koby Torto, the 23-year-old put a lot of effort into making sure her kid had the greatest life possible.
“My sister had nothing short of a difficult life but in the last couple of years, she worked tirelessly to create the best life for her child who was the absolute light of her life,” said Torto.
“She was taken from us in a cowardly act.”Her daughter was the source of her happiness, and we will be there for her for the rest of her life.
Detective Inspector Chris Knight said reporters yesterday that the silver Toyota Prado, a 4WD, had been in the vicinity prior to the Daisy Hill collision for a considerable amount of time.
“We will allege that that event was not in fact an accident, and the young lady who has tragically lost her life, was in fact targeted,” Knight stated. “For that reason, we don’t believe that it was an unfortunate, random traffic accident.”
After her case was brought up in today’s Ipswich Magistrates Court, the accused was placed under jail on remand.
The seriousness of the charge precluded her from requesting bail.
A damaged silver Toyota Prado was found by police on Saturday in Goodna, west of Brisbane, and the 24-year-old male was taken into custody at Yamanto, a few suburbs away.
Police declined to comment on any potential relationship between the two, although they did characterize the episode as unusual.
Police have requested dashcam footage and have encouraged anybody who may have seen a white, unbranded bus in the area just before 9 a.m. on Friday—the driver, the owner, or the passengers—to come forward.
Sant’s case has been postponed to July 31 at the Beenleigh Magistrates Court.
