A second person has been charged over the alleged hit-and-run murder of a young mother as police try to remove “concerning” social media posts about the case.
Police allege Kiesha Thompson, 23, was deliberately hit by a 4×4 vehicle in a “horrendous 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 violence murder.
Police have declined to say whether the women knew each other. However, the Daily Mail Australia revealed that Sant was dating Thompson’s ex-boyfriend.
Detectives have also charged Tyler Scott William James, 27, with domestic violence murder after he was arrested in Logan Central on Monday. Police have alleged that the victim knew James.
His case was heard in Brisbane Magistrates Court on Tuesday.
Detective Inspector Chris Knight said police would allege James…was an accomplice to that murder… We believe that he participated in the planning and preparation of this crime.
Inspector Knight said the case had seriously affected the police.
Police allege Kiesha Thompson, 23 (pictured), was deliberately hit by a 4×4 vehicle in a “horrendous crime” as she walked home along a footpath after dropping her daughter off at nursery in Daisy Hill, south of the city, on Friday.
‘I’ve been an investigator for over 30 years, I’ve spent much of my career investigating homicides… and I can honestly say there are features of this investigation that will stay with me. It’s a horrendous story. crime.’
The inspector said police are also having to deal with social media posts about the case which are adding to the grief of Ms Thompson’s family.
“When I first learned of those posts, and there have been quite a few, it was distressing in many ways,” she said.
“But the most important thing is the pain it causes to the surviving victims of this. It’s hard to put into words, it never ceases to amaze me.”
Inspector Knight added: “We have taken steps to try to have those posts examined. That will be part of an ongoing investigation, but we have also taken steps to try to get them removed, which is a challenge.”
“But it’s not something we take lightly and it’s inexplicable.”
He said that his ‘The colleagues… spent a lot of time yesterday with Kiesha’s family.’
‘They are mourning the loss of their niece, their sister. She was a mother. The impact that (her death) will have on her family is tremendous.
Queensland Police charged Tyler Scott William James (pictured) with murder as a result of domestic violence on Monday after he was arrested in Logan Central.
‘We don’t lose sight of the fact that (the arrests)… don’t change much in their eyes. They are still without their loved one and nothing anyone can do can change that.
“And that’s the tragedy of it all. It’s an important milestone in our investigation… but it doesn’t bring Kiesha back.”
He said police will allege Ms Thompson and James had separated months ago and also shared a child together.
“We will argue that the relationship was over, and that it had been over for some months prior to the killing,” Inspector Knight said.
James, who is from Acacia Ridge, did not appear in court in person although his position was briefly mentioned.
James’ lawyer, Catherine Stewart, has asked for the matter to be heard next as a preliminary hearing at Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court on July 31 with his co-accused.
Police say the 4×4 vehicle was in the area before the crash.
“For that reason we do not believe this was an unfortunate, random road traffic accident,” Inspector Knight said on Sunday.
Sant was remanded in custody after her matter was mentioned at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court on Monday and will reappear at Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court on July 31.
Magistrate Julian Noud on Tuesday ordered James to remain in custody and for his charge to be mentioned alongside Sant’s at the same hearing, but excused him from appearing in person.
The tragedy has left Ms Thompson’s family grappling with an “enormity” of grief.
Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant, 24 (pictured), allegedly killed Kiesha Thompson, 23, by running her over with a car.
Koby Torto said his sister was taken from her family in a “cowardly act,” while her aunt Amanda Matthias called it “horrible and senseless” in a video released by police on Monday.
His sister, Keyara, said the pain of losing her brother was beyond words.
“We are struggling with the enormity of his absence in our lives,” she said.
Her family pledged to care for her young daughter, who was “the absolute light of her life.”
“We are here to support her (her daughter) throughout her life,” Torto said.
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