Drunk L-plater, 22, facing jail after crash that killed beloved grandfather
- L-plater Alisha Fagan pleads guilty to drunk driving
- She sped across the intersection before crashing
- Melbourne’s grandfather was killed in smash
A young learner driver faces jail time after driving drunk through an intersection and killing a beloved grandfather.
Alisha Fagan pleaded guilty to speeding at an intersection and failure to yield the right of way on 9 June 2022 when she crashed into a car near Sunshine in Melbourne.
The 22-year-old was drunk driving an Audi with a suspended license when she collided with the side of a Honda sedan, killing local grandfather Sedat Hassan.
The court previously heard that she was driving at ‘excessive speed’ when she drove into Mr Hassan’s car, which was pushed forcefully 25 meters from the point of impact.
Fagan lied to police when they arrived and told them she had not been driving, the court was told.
Learner driver Alisha Fagan was drunk and speeding when she crashed into another car, killing Melbourne grandfather Sedat Hassan
She gave officers a false name and tried to blame four African men for the fatal accident, who she claimed fled the vehicle after the collision.
The court heard that police then searched her handbag and found the keys to the Audi, four xanax tablets and a kitchen knife.
On Monday, Victoria County Court heard that it was very likely that Fagan would be jailed on the charges of dangerous driving resulting in death and drug possession.
“This is really a matter of when Ms. Fagan will be returned to custody,” Judge Scott Johns said.
He said sentencing principles and recent rulings pointed to a non-parole period of six months as an appropriate outcome for the 22-year-old.
Ms Fagan falsely blamed the fatal accident on four African men who she claimed fled the scene
While the judge reminded the court that he would never “pre-judge” the case or “rule out” other sentencing options, he had a clear message for the learner driver and her family.
“Don’t get your hopes up,” he said.
Fagan was released on bail last year after serving 76 days behind bars on remand.
The court heard her driving revealed “very worrying past driving.”
Just hours before the deadly crash that killed Hassan, the court previously learned that the learner driver had been drinking with a friend near the Maribyrnong River.
Judge Johns said Ms Fagan has made ‘good progress’ with her rehabilitation but noted it was ‘still in its infancy’.
He decided to postpone her sentencing for three months until August.
Prosecutor Kristie Churchill opposed the postponement, arguing that further delays would unnecessarily distress Mr Hassan’s grieving family.
Police found four xanax tablets and a kitchen knife in Fagan’s handbag after her Audi was involved in the fatal accident
“This proceeding is now at a third plea hearing … which I think is unfortunate,” she said.
“The grief (of the family) that the case is taking longer would be self-evident.”
Judge Johns acknowledged the stress of the “lengthy process,” but assured Mr. Hassan’s family that justice would prevail.
“The enormity of the loss of the deceased (to his) family cannot be overemphasized,” he said.
“Deferral of punishment does not replace those concepts of accountability or giving weight to general deterrence and indictment and just punishment; they are just postponed.’
Fagan returns to court to be convicted of the fatal August 18 crash.