“Your failure to stop or call for assistance was callous – you had no idea whether that person you hit was dead or alive,” Christian told her.
“You claim it was embarrassment that stopped you doing either of those things, but in circumstances where you didn’t have a driver’s license … the only rational conclusion is that you knew you would be in trouble.”
The court heard Shaheen had minimised her offending and claimed she thought she had run over a music instrument after hitting the girl.
Tory Carter, mum of Alexis Lloyd who was the victim of a hit-and-run incident in Willetton in 2023.Credit: Rebecca Peppiatt
On Thursday, despite prosecutors accepting that a suspended term of imprisonment would be suitable, Christian said she felt this was “a serious example of this type of offending” and jailed her for a total of 16 months with eligibility for parole after eight months.
Outside court the victim’s mother, Tory Carter, told waiting media that prison was justified.
“This is what I was hoping for,” she said.
“I was hoping for a couple of years, and not so much for her – I’m sure she’s a lovely lady – but this does need to send that clear message to everybody that you can’t do that.”
Carter thanked WA Police for tracking down Shaheen after the incident through CCTV footage and eye-witness accounts.
“Today’s sentencing has brought justice finally for the callous hit-and-run of Alexis,” she said.
“We’re relieved that the court today finally recognise the seriousness of this crime. We hope that the outcome sends a clear message that leaving the scene of a crime and failing to take responsibility is unacceptable.”