1 month ago
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An English backpacker who fatally collided with a father of two while riding an e-scooter drunk in Perth has pleaded guilty.
Alicia Kemp, 25, struck Thanh Phan, 51, while riding through the Western Australia capital at about 8.40pm on 31 May.
Phan was critically injured and died in hospital several days later.
Kemp was charged with dangerous driving occasioning death – under the influence of alcohol and dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm – under the influence of alcohol.
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She appeared in Western Australia’s magistrates court on Monday and pleaded guilty to dangerous driving occasioning death – under the influence of alcohol.
Prosecutors dropped the bodily harm charge.
Outside court, Kemp’s defence lawyer Mike Tudori said his client had acted stupidly and now wanted the court process to be completed as quickly as possible.
“She is nervous and worried, she’s a young foreign national girl in our prison (system),” he told reporters.
“She’s relieved that one of the charges has been discontinued, and now she’ll just move towards preparing for a sentencing later on in the year for this tragic death.”
Tudori said he’d like the sentencing process completed by Christmas. He said Kemp’s family in the UK were concerned and worried for her and that she was being supported in WA by her boyfriend.
“She’s obviously done something stupid at the time,” he said.
“She obviously wasn’t thinking, level-headed and there’s consequences, and she just wants to get on with her life.”
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Kemp, who was previously refused bail, was remanded in custody. She is scheduled to be sentenced on 31 October.
Phan’s family previously described him as a “beloved husband, father of two, brother, and dear friend”.
Kemp suffered minor injuries in the collision.
Her 26-year-old female pillion passenger was taken to hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
