Fatal hit-and-run driver thought he had hit animal, court hears
A 20-year-old hit-and-run driver who fatally struck a woman in Adelaide's north-east has apologised to his victim's family in court, which heard he did not initially realise he had hit a person.
An Adelaide man has apologized in court for hitting and killing a young international student who was kneeling on the road. Ashton Friend, 20, hit Samia Malik, an international student, as he drove home from his girlfriend's house in May last year. Friend initially believed he had hit a small animal, which is why he did not realize the gravity of his actions.
The victim's family and friends described their overwhelming grief and loss, as Samia was only 23 years old. Friend pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving and leaving the scene of an accident after causing death. Both the prosecution and defense agreed that a suspended jail term would be an appropriate penalty. In his apology, Friend expressed deep remorse and vowed to carry the weight of his failures for the rest of his life.
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