Drunk driver Alisha Fagan who killed grandfather and lied to police pleads guilty in Victorian court

A young woman who murdered a beloved grandfather repeatedly found herself in court when prosecutors insulted her in front of her and the victim’s family.

After previously denying the charges and blaming ‘four African men’, Alisha Fagan, 22, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving resulting in death in Victoria’s Koori Court County Court on Monday.

On June 9, 2022, Fagan sped through an intersection and failed to give way in the Melbourne suburb of Sunshine, killing local grandfather Sedat Hassan, 69.

She drove too fast, clocked 78 mph in a 50 zone, with alcohol in her system, on a suspended learner’s license and blew .029 on testing.

As the circumstances of what happened were described by prosecutor Kristie Churchill, which included Fagan drinking with a friend at the Maribyrnong River before the incident, Fagan sobbed uncontrollably and briefly left the courtroom.

Mr. Hassan’s widow, Balkiz, fainted when the evidence of her husband’s death was read and was taken to hospital by ambulance.

Ms Churchill told the court at 12.45pm on 9 June, driving a white Audi at ‘excessive speed’ and with alcohol in her system, Fagan ignored a give way sign and collided with Mr Hassan’s car at the junction of Links St and Glengala Road.

The force of the impact was so great, the court heard, Mr. Hassan’s Honda came to a stop 25 meters from the point of impact.

Ms Churchill said Fagan lied to police after the crash, telling them she had been a passenger in the car, from which four African men had fled.

She said Fagan, who was unemployed and living with her mother in Wyndham Vale at the time, had initially told police her name was ‘Ruby Cannon’.

Police searched her bag and found the keys to the Audi, four Xanax tablets and a kitchen knife, the court heard.

Fagan was out on bail at the time and was banned from driving as part of her bail.

On June 9, 2022, Fagan sped through an intersection and failed to give way in Melbourne’s suburb of Sunshine, killing local grandfather Sedat Hassan, 69.

Sedat Hassan (pictured) died at the scene as a result of his injuries when his car was hit by an Audi driven by Alisha Fagan

A victim impact statement, written by Mr Hassan’s widow, Balkiz, but read in court by Ms Churchill, recounted the trauma of police arriving at their home in Sunshine West and telling the family what had happened, what happened to her son translate for her.

“I asked my son what the police said,” the victim statement said.

‘I have lost the love of my life. My husband was my world and I can’t bring him back.

‘I do not speak English. I depend on my sons for this and feel like a burden.’

Their son Kadir said in his statement that he “got emotional when I had to identify his body, I exploded. I’ve been thinking about taking my own life.

“Daddy just wanted to be a grandfather… but he only got to hold his grandson three times.”

According to the procedure of the Koori Court, Fagan sat next to her mother, along with two Aboriginal Elders.

Fagan said she felt “safer” and was “able to talk” in the presence of Indigenous artwork in the room, telling the court she had started painting while on bail in a Bunjilwarra – an Aboriginal drug rehabilitation center in Hastings, Victoria.

“Rehab has helped me so much more than prison,” she said. “You can’t heal in that environment.”

In a letter of apology to the family, Fagan said, “I know that what I write will never be good enough.”

Fagan (pictured) wrote an apology letter to the victim’s family, saying she was a “severe alcoholic” at the time

Sedat Hassan (pictured) was only allowed to hold his grandson three times before he was killed

“I am writing this letter to express my deep regret. I take full responsibility for what happened.

“I was a severe alcoholic. I’ve made bad lifestyle choices.”

Fagan’s mother, who was present with her father, told the court she was “so angry with her” at the time of the tragedy, but “couldn’t be more proud of her today and I couldn’t have said that.” past’.

The case was partially adjourned until May 9, with Fagan’s bail extended until that date.