There were emotional scenes at the site where a young lawyer was killed in a suspected hit-and-run as his heartbroken relatives arrived in Australia to support his grieving girlfriend.
Mitch East, 28, had just been dropped off by an Uber outside his apartment building on Fletcher Street in Tamarama, in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, when he was allegedly struck by a vehicle shortly after 4am on Sunday.
A passerby found Mr. East, who attended Harvard Law School, with serious injuries to his head and chest. Despite the desperate efforts of emergency services, he could not be saved and died instantly.
Devastated family members traveled to Sydney from Mr East’s home country of New Zealand on Sunday after receiving the tragic news.
Daily Mail Australia understands Mr East and his long-term girlfriend crossed the divide about two years ago to pursue work opportunities.
Lawyer Mitch East (pictured) was killed in a suspected hit-and-run in Sydney’s east in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Mr East’s mother was greeted outside her apartment by a friend on Monday after arriving in Australia from New Zealand.
Mr East’s broken mother and his girlfriend were seen outside the couple’s unit in Fletcher Street on Monday as grieving friends stopped to lay flowers.
At one point, Mr. East’s mother kissed a friend when she arrived home and the two men went for a walk down the street.
In emotional scenes, a large group of Mr East’s colleagues descended on the building around 4pm with large bouquets which they placed on the ground outside the couple’s home.
Men and women could be seen embracing each other as they paused in silence at the memorial site.
Mr East studied law in his home country, securing notable positions as a senior advisor to the Royal Commission into the Christchurch Terrorist Attack and as a lawyer with major national law firm Meredith Connell.
He moved to Australia around 2022 to work for his current employer, the large company Arnold Bloch Leibler.
A spokesperson for Arnold Bloch Leibler told Daily Mail Australia that all staff were informed of the tragedy by email on Monday morning.
A group of Mr. East’s colleagues left large bouquets in front of his building on Monday.
Mr East is remembered as a ‘very talented’ and ‘popular’ lawyer
“(In the email) Arnold Bloch Leibler Managing Partner Henry Lanzer and Sydney Managing Partner Paul Rubenstein paid tribute to Mitch, describing him as a very talented lawyer and a popular and valued member of the firm , whose loss will be deeply felt,” the spokesperson said. said.
“The partners expressed their sincere condolences to Mitch’s parents, his partner and many close friends, both within and outside of Arnold Bloch Leibler.”
It comes as police revealed investigators were searching for the driver of a white Subaru Outback which was spotted in the area on CCTV around the same time as the crash.
Appearing on Sunrise on Monday, NSW Police Inspector Jason Hogan urged the driver to come forward.
“It’s a cowardly act to leave after hitting another human being,” he said.
“They really need to go to their local police station before we knock on their door.”
Inspector Hogan would not confirm whether detectives believed the driver was local, but said police were currently following “all lines of inquiry” as to where the person might live.
Officers are pictured processing the crime scene in Tamarama on Sunday
Mr East was educated at Harvard Law School and moved to Australia from New Zealand for his career in law.
As part of the investigation, Inspector Hogan said officers were canvassing local areas, businesses and transport companies to obtain additional footage which could identify more clues.
Residents reported hearing a car alarm going off and a loud bang at the time of the crash.
Deputy Superintendent Adam Solah said officers had contacted the man’s family.
“The family is obviously very upset and distraught, and our hearts go out to them as we have to hear such difficult news,” he said.
Police are also appealing for witnesses or anyone with CCTV footage who may be able to help come forward.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact police immediately.