Backpacker faces jail in Oz after killing pedestrian while drunk on e-scooter
Alicia Kemp (24) was arrested and charged for riding the hired e-scooter on a footpath and knocking down 51-year-old engineer Thanh Phan
Pedestrian Thanh Phan died after being hit at the intersection of Murray Street and King Street by an e-scooter
A British backpacker is facing 20 years in prison after she allegedly killed a father by ploughing into him while riding drunk on an e-scooter.
An Australian court was told Alicia Kemp (24) was arrested and charged for riding the hired e-scooter on a footpath and knocking down 51-year-old engineer Thanh Phan.
Mr Phan was struck from behind as he walked along Murray Street in Perth's Central Business District with a friend at about 8.40pm on Saturday.
Alicia Kemp who had been riding the e-scooter that hit Mr Phan has been denied bail having appeared in court flanked by security guards.
The court was told that she was in Australia with her partner on a four-month tourist visa and that she had been working at Durty Nelly's Irish pub.
E-scooters on a street in Perth. Stock image
News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025
She had been out drinking on Saturday afternoon from 2.30pm with a friend, who was kicked out of a bar for being too drunk.
Later that evening, at around 8.30pm, she hired an e-scooter.
Police told the court that she was the main driver, while her friend was a passenger.
Prosecutors said that Kemp was driving in an 'inexplicably dangerous' manner and that pedestrians were forced to 'take evasive action'.
'She has careered into his back, causing him to fall forward and hit his head,' the officer said.
Mr Phan, a senior structural engineer for Worley, was taken to Royal Perth hospital in a critical condition.
He tragically died of brain injuries following the May 31 incident.
Ms Kemp's 26-year-old pillion passenger was flung from the e-scooter but suffered non-life-threatening injuries.
The whole incident that was captured on CCTV lasted less than 10 minutes.
Pedestrian Thanh Phan died after being hit at the intersection of Murray Street and King Street by an e-scooter
Vehicle examiners who watched the footage estimated Ms Kemp reached up to 25km/h, while the speed limit for e-scooters on footpaths was 10km/h.
She was travelling at 24km/h when 'she careered into his back', prosecutors said, adding that this caused Phan to fall forward and hit his head.
A police prosecutor told Perth Magistrates Court on Tuesday that the 24-year-old a blood alcohol reading of 0.158 per cent.
The police prosecutor told Magistrate Richard Huston that an upgraded charge was 'guaranteed'.
Ms Kemp had been charged with dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm under the influence of alcohol, but that has now been upgraded to dangerous driving occasioning death under the influence of alcohol.
It carries a maximum penalty of 20 years.
Ms Kemp who sustained minor injuries and was not taken to hospital, also faces a charge of dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm under the influence of alcohol over her friend's injuries.
The unidentified 26-year-old was thrown from the scooter and suffered a fractured skull and broken nose.
The police prosecutor opposed bail as Ms Kemp was in Western Australia for four months on a working holiday visa.
As she had connection to WA, she was considered a flight risk to which the magistrate agreed, despite the accused woman's duty lawyer saying she could be under a 24-hour curfew and surrender her passport.
The magistrate said that remanding the British backpacker in custody was a 'very difficult decision for the court to make'.
But he said that the prosecution's strong case and the prospect of a long prison sentence if convicted meant that there was a risk of her 'not returning to court to answer the charges'.
'The temptation might be that (she) won't return. I can't manage that risk.'
Ms Kemp wiped away tears, according to Perth Now, as she was told she would be remanded in custody until her next court appearance on July 15.
Mr Phan's profile showed he studied in Singapore before working in Vietnam then Sydney before moving to Perth.
In a statement, Mr Phan's family described him as a 'beloved husband, father of two, brother and dear friend'.
Saying the news of his death on Monday night had been heart-breaking, they called for a review of laws and safety regulations around hired e-scooters 'to help prevent further serious incidents that put lives at risk'.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RTÉ News
an hour ago
- RTÉ News
Watch: Former soldiers and a baker among new garda recruits
Today, 120 new gardaí graduated from the Garda College in Templemore, bringing the strength of the force to over 14,300 sworn members. Of the 89 men and 31 women, 22 were born outside the State and come from Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, England, Italy, Moldova, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and Spain. Most of them, 74 in all, will be sent to Dublin. We spoke to three of the new gardaí, an Irish and an Italian soldier, and a baker who returned from Australia, and asked them where they come from, why they joined and what they hope to achieve in An Garda Siochána.
The Irish Sun
2 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner gloats cops ‘will NEVER pin case on me without a body' in sick letter
MADELEINE McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner has gloated that police will never pin the case on him without a body. In a sickening letter, investigation will hit the world like a bomb'. Advertisement 9 Prime suspect Christian Brueckner goaded cops in a sick letter bragging that they will not find a body Credit: Darren Fletcher 9 British toddler Madeleine McCann disappeared from Praia da Luz in Portugal back in 2007 Credit: AFP 9 Bruckner taunted cops in a letter to claim they cannot find evidence against him 9 Police officers packed up a tent as they ended day one of their search for evidence connected to Madeleine McCann's disappearance Credit: PA The police do not have the evidence to back their accusations against him in the investigation into the toddler's disappearance. And The vile letter emerged as officers desperate to find a forensic link to him flew back to Germany after a fresh, three-day search in Portugal. They had combed scrubland Advertisement READ MORE ON MADELEINE MCCANN German prosecutors are convinced of the Last month, a Sun investigation aired on Channel 4 revealed new bombshell evidence found at We revealed that he wrote horrifying fantasies about abducting and abusing a blonde toddler — and how this would leave him 'in paradise'. He also boasted in online forums about his desire to 'capture something small and use it for days'. Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking But, in the verified letter seen by The Sun, Brueckner insists there is no evidence against him. He wrote: 'It is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered. Madeleine McCann cops call off search as trawl of Brueckner's 'rat run' turns up nothing 'Was I or my vehicle clearly seen near the crime scene on the night of the crime? "Is there DNA evidence of me at the crime scene? Are there DNA traces of the injured party in my vehicle? Advertisement 'Are there other traces/DNA carriers of the injured party in my possession? Photos? 'And, not to forget, is there a body/corpse? All no, no no.' He adds: 'You don't have to be a realist like me to predict that the accusations made against me will not hold up and that the investigation will be dropped.' Brueckner — named as a Advertisement He wrote: 'You know, of course, that in Germany you don't have to prove your innocence as a suspect, but that the public prosecutor's office has to prove that you are clearly guilty. 'Even the slightest doubt leads to an acquittal, if there is a court hearing at all.' 9 Portuguese police are searching various sites in and around the resort of Praia da Luz Credit: Dan Charity 9 The locations are around where Brueckner stayed in his car or in camping grounds Credit: Dan Charity Advertisement Brueckner even claims the case against him is built on 'purchased witnesses' and reveals his awareness of his global notoriety. He added: 'Now, my path is paved with misjudgements, so to speak, but from now on the whole world is watching. 'Not even the Braunschweig regional court will now dare to make an obvious misjudgement. 'Even if an attempt is currently being made to create a shocking overall picture of me through purchased witnesses, it is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered with 'yes'.' Advertisement The Police were seen taking fibres by hand while a hole was dug at the site of an apparent tent from around the However, it was unclear whether the search had found anything was found with enough potential value to the case it merited being sent back to Germany for testing. Brueckner had already moved out of his cottage in Praia da Luz when three-year-old Madeleine, from Rothley, Leics, arrived in the resort with Advertisement Those who want to understand how brutal the German justice system is in its attempts to hammer through its own law, even if nothing is true. Christian Brueckner He was living in his car, or In another letter seen by The Sun, Brueckner described how he used his He wrote: 'Do you know that I was a drug dealer at that time in 2007? Investigators know this. 'I bought marijuana in Spain and sold it on beaches in the Algarve. Advertisement 'I was never caught by the police because I followed a few principles. 'If possible, only drive during the day so that my battered hippie bus doesn't attract so much attention, only drive the necessary and most importantly, never provoke the police.' 9 Brueckner has been named as a Madeleine suspect for five years 9 Forensic cops comb scrubland close to where Madeleine vanished aged three from a holiday Credit: Dan Charity Advertisement He added: 'Together with my dog and a lover at the time I enjoyed the 'temporary hippie life'.' The seeming failure of long-shot searches this week to find any traces of Madeleine is the latest in a string of blows for the case. German authorities, who He told this week he Advertisement The pervert was jailed in 2019 for the 2005 rape of an American pensioner just streets from the Ocean Club, where the McCanns stayed in Praia da Luz. In his letters, he whinges he has been framed so he can be scapegoated over the Madeleine case. Key dates in Madeleine McCann's disappearance MADELEINE McCann vanished on May 3, 2007 - and cops believe Brueckner could have been behind her disappearance. Almost 17 years on, no one has been charged in connection. These are the key dates: May 3, 2007 - Kate McCann finds Madeleine missing at 10pm May 14, 2007 - Property developer Robert Murat is named an "arguido" or formal suspect August 31, 2007 - The McCanns launch libel action against Tal e Qual - a newspaper that claimed the couple killed Madeleine September 7, 2007 - Kate and Gerry McCann are made "arguidos" September 9, 2007 - Madeleine's parents return to England with their two-year-old twins October 2, 2007 - Lead detective Goncalo Amaral is taken off the case after criticising British police in a newspaper interview July 21, 2009 - Portuguese police lift the "arguido" status of both Robert Murat and the McCanns May 12, 2011 - On Madeleine's eighth birthday, Scotland Yard launches a review into the case April 25, 2012 - Scotland Yard officers say they believe Madeleine McCann is still alive July 4, 2013 - Two years into a review of the case, Scotland Yard launched its own investigation into Madeleine's disappearance October 24, 2013 - Portuguese police reopen their case after new lines of inquiry are found November 27, 2013 - Met Police Commissioner Sir Bernard Hogan-Howe called for British and Portuguese police to work together October 28, 2015 - Scotland Yard reduces the number of officers working on Madeleine's disappearance March 11, 2017 - September 28, 2017 - November 2017 - May 2018 - Another round of funding, thought to be in the region of £150,000 is granted September 2018 - An November 2018 - More funding, thought to be in November 2018 - UK police June 2019 - Another round of funding, June 2019 - Portuguese police are June 2020 - New prime suspect April 2022 - Brueckner formally made an "arguido" May 2023 - Police Brueckner wrote: 'Right from the start they plotted a miscarriage of justice to make me vanish into thin air. And now half the world knows why.' And he adds: 'I am not exaggerating when I say that 80 per cent of what I have heard from the reports is not true. Advertisement 'A large proportion of these lies are clearly being spread by the investigating authorities. "My words are directed at those who are taking this seriously and are not laughing about it. 'Those who want to understand how brutal the German justice system is in its attempts to hammer through its own law , even if nothing is true.' The Sun investigation aired on Channel 4 revealed the existence of computer hard drives which were vital in to persuading investigators of Madeleine's death. Advertisement Our findings placed Brueckner at key Madeleine search point — the And a document puts him at the location where he allegedly said 'she did not scream' as he discussed her with an associate. In the online message where he German investigators last night remained Advertisement 9 The long-shot searches attempting to find any trace of Madeleine did not bring results Credit: Dan Charity
The Journal
3 hours ago
- The Journal
Court escorts for prisoners at risk due to overcrowding, Irish prisons boss warns
THERE IS A real risk that the Irish Prison Service will not be able to transport all prisoners for court hearings, as overcrowding is putting pressure on staff to meet their escort abilities. Director General of the Irish Prison Service Caron McCaffrey warned the Department of Justice in a letter last year that the system is at 'tipping point' in respect of its ability to carry out escorts to court and maintain safe staffing standards inside its facilities. Her letter told the Department: 'Current levels of overcrowding are exacerbated by resource constraints due to ever-increasing demands for escorts.' The Journal has previously reported that record-high levels of overcrowding inside Ireland's prisons are increasing the risk of violence , seeing incarcerated people sleeping on the floor and creating a difficult working environment for staff . Speaking to journalists last month, McCaffrey said she hopes that new ankle monitoring technology will assist the service in reducing the number of people in prison who are on remand, awaiting trial, which amounts to roughly 20% of the population. The short-term remedy is also being met with additional funding to increase the number of beds that can be made available in the existing system , the department of justice has previously said. In her letter, the head of the prison system said she had 'grave concerns' around the safety of staff and prisoners, because of dire overcrowding in jails. Concerns around the length of time court escorts take, and frequency of them, were highlighted by staff at a recent Prison Officer Association conference in Galway last month. Recruitment for the Prison Service Escort Corp, which transports officers and prisoners to court and other prisons, has been a particular issue in recent years as resources become stretched. Advertisement There were 4,960 prisoners in custody at the time of McCaffery's letter, in May 2024, in which she said the Irish prison system was 'not in a position to absorb the inevitable increase in committals safely'. Since then, the number of people in custody has risen to as high as 5,400. McCaffery said the appointment of additional judges has contributed to the increases in prisoner population and court escorts. 'Undoubtedly, a large element of the current overcrowding crisis is directly related to the appointment of additional judges,' the letter said. '[This led to] the scheduling of over 600 extra court sittings this year, decisions taken when our prisons were already overcapacity and not in a position to absorb the inevitable increase in committals safely.' McCaffrey's letter was addressed to one of the most senior officials in the Department of Justice, but has only now been released following an appeal to the Information Commissioner under Freedom of Information laws. Months before the letter was sent, The Journal reported how the Irish Prison Service was using temporary release measures, when people in custody are let out periodically under strict conditions, to alleviate the system from increased levels of overcrowding . The use of the temporary release scheme is approved on a case-by-case basis. It is understood that every suitable candidate for the measure in the system has already been approved. McCaffery told the department in May 2024 that she wanted an urgent decision on new rules around who could and could not be given temporary release. She wrote: 'In the absence of an urgent decision [on temporary release measures], I need to advise you that I now have grave concerns in relation to the ability of this service to ensure the safety of both those who work and live in our prisons.' She said there had been a sharp increase in temporary release to relieve pressure, but that all the main prisons were well above operational capacity. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
