A second person has been charged with the alleged premeditated murder of a young mother, as police attempt to remove ‘shocking’ social media posts about the case.
Police say Kiesha Thompson, 23, was deliberately struck by an SUV in what amounts to a “heinous crime” as she walked home along a footpath after dropping her daughter off at daycare in Daisy Hill, Brisbane, on Friday.
Ms Thompson died in hospital that night and police later charged Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant, 24, with domestic battery, alleging she was behind the wheel.
Police declined to say whether the women knew each other. However, Daily Mail Australia revealed that Sant was in a relationship with Ms Thompson’s ex-boyfriend, Tyler Scott William James, 27.
Detectives have now also charged him with domestic violence murder after he was arrested Monday in Logan Central.
His case was heard in the Brisbane District Court on Tuesday.
Detective Inspector Chris Knight said police would charge James withwas a participant in that murder… We are convinced that he was involved in the planning and preparation of that crime.’
According to Inspector Knight, the case has taken a heavy toll on the police force.
Police allege 23-year-old Kiesha Thompson (pictured) was deliberately hit by a four-wheel drive in a ‘horrific crime’ as she walked home on a footpath after dropping her daughter off at daycare in Daisy Hill, south of the city, on Friday
‘I have been a detective for over 30 years, have spent a large part of my career on murder cases… and I can honestly say that there are features of this investigation that will stay with me. It is a horrific crime.
The inspector said police are also dealing with social media posts about the case which only add to the grief of Ms Thompson’s family.
“When I heard those reports, and there have been quite a few, it was disturbing on many levels,” he said.
‘But the most important thing is the grief that the survivors experience. It is difficult to express in words and it continues to amaze me.’
Insp Knight added: ‘We have taken steps to try to have those messages investigated. That will form part of an ongoing investigation, but we have also taken steps to try to have them removed, which is a challenge.
“But it’s not something we take lightly, and it’s inexplicable.”
He said that his ‘colleagues … spent a lot of time with Kiesha’s family yesterday’.
“They are grieving the loss of their niece, their sister. She was a mother. The impact (her death) has had on her family is enormous.
Queensland Police charged Tyler Scott William James (pictured) with domestic violence murder on Monday after he was arrested in Logan Central
“We don’t lose sight of the fact that (the arrests) … it doesn’t change much in their eyes. They are still without their loved one and no one can change that.
“And that’s the tragedy in all of this. It’s an important milestone in our investigation … but it doesn’t bring Kiesha back.”
He said police believe Thompson and James split months ago and that they also had a child together.
“We allege the relationship had been going on for a number of months prior to the murder,” Detective Inspector Knight said.
James, who is from Acacia Ridge, was not present in person in court when his charges were briefly discussed.
James’ lawyer, Catherine Stewart, requested that the case be heard as a preliminary hearing in Beenleigh District Court on July 31, along with his co-accused.
Police suspect that the SUV was driving around in the area before the crash.
“That’s why we do not believe it was an unfortunate, random traffic accident,” Inspector Knight said on Sunday.
Sant was remanded in custody after her case was heard at Ipswich Crown Court on Monday. She will appear again at Beenleigh Crown Court on July 31.
Judge Julian Noud on Tuesday ordered that James be remanded in custody and that his charges be discussed with Sant at the same hearing. However, he is not required to appear in person.
The tragedy has left Mrs Thompson’s family with ‘tremendous’ grief.
Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant, 24, (pictured) allegedly murdered Kiesha Thompson, 23, by running her over with a car
Koby Torto said it was a “cowardly act” when his sister was taken from the family, while her aunt Amanda Matthias called it “horrible and senseless” in a video released by police on Monday.
Her sister Keyara said the pain of losing her sibling cannot be expressed in words.
“We are struggling with the enormity of her absence from our lives,” she said.
Her family promised to take good care of their daughter, she was ‘the absolute light in her life’.
“We are here to support her (daughter) throughout her life,” Mr Torto said.
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