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British backpacker Alicia Kemp, 25, pleads guilty to e-scooter crash that killed a Perth dad

British backpacker Alicia Kemp, 25, pleads guilty to e-scooter crash that killed a Perth dad

News.com.aua day ago
A British backpacker who killed a Perth father riding an e-scooter while she was intoxicated has pleaded guilty.
Alicia Kemp, 25, from Worcestershire, was riding an e-scooter through Perth's CBD while over the legal alcohol limit and carrying a passenger when she struck Thanh Phan, 51.
Mr Phan was rushed to hospital but died from his injuries days later.
Kemp appeared via video link in the Perth Magistrates Court on Monday where she pleaded guilty to dangerous driving causing death under the influence of alcohol.
Prosecutors dropped a dangerous driving causing bodily harm charge.
She was remanded in custody and the matter was moved to the higher District Court where a sentencing date will be set on October 31.
Her lawyer Michael Tudori told media his client was nervous and worried.
'She's a young foreign national girl in our prison,' he said outside court.
'She's relieved that one of the charges has been discontinued, and now she'll just move towards preparing for a sentencing later on in the year for this tragic death.'
Mr Phan was the first pedestrian to die in WA from an e-scooter incident.
His death prompted local government's in Perth's metro area to suspend e-scooter hire services and a national discussion about e-scooter safety.
Australian Medical Association WA president Michael Page told NewsWire at least one person with major injuries caused by e-scooters presented to the Royal Perth Hospital's trauma unit each day with serious, and often, life altering injuries.
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Sayed Moosawi claimed $12k payment over Bondi arson attack, court documents allege
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Sayed Moosawi claimed $12k payment over Bondi arson attack, court documents allege

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Dark past catches up to father linked with son to alleged school paedophile ring
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'Support for racism': NT Police officer's Thin Blue Line symbol triggers ban
'Support for racism': NT Police officer's Thin Blue Line symbol triggers ban

ABC News

timean hour ago

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'Support for racism': NT Police officer's Thin Blue Line symbol triggers ban

A Northern Territory police sergeant with a history of racism publicly displayed an image linked to white supremacists as his Facebook cover photo for three years, only removing it last week after the ABC made inquiries. WARNING: This story contains racist and offensive language and the name of an Indigenous person who has died. Sergeant Lee Bauwens was the direct supervisor of former police constable Zachary Rolfe, who fatally shot 19-year-old Kumanjayi Walker in the remote community of Yuendumu in 2019. The inquest that followed into Mr Walker's death revealed that Sergeant Bauwens shared attitudes with Mr Rolfe that were, in the words of the coroner, "plainly racist" and had "joined him in his use of racist language". Sergeant Bauwens denied in his evidence to the coroner that his team or its members were racist. 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The inquest also revealed Sergeant Bauwens used overtly racist language, calling Aboriginal people "bush c*ons" in a text message to Mr Rolfe four months before Kumanjayi Walker's death. This conflicted with evidence Sergeant Bauwens gave the coroner in April 2024 in which he claimed the word "c*on" was not used by frontline members. "As a General duties Sgt for 8 years from 2014 to 2022 those terms or words were not used to my knowledge," he said in the statement. Sergeant Bauwens also acknowledged in his evidence he had taken part in the now infamous racist awards at the Territory Response Group's (TRG) Christmas parties. Coroner Elisabeth Armitage described the so-called Noogadah awards as "among the most grotesque examples of racism uncovered at the inquest". One of the awards, for "the most c*on-like behaviour", Sergeant Bauwens acknowledged was "inappropriate" and "unacceptable". The Thin Blue Line symbol historically symbolised the idea that police stand between order and chaos and has been used to honour officers who've died in the line of duty. But experts say the "manifestation" of that concept has been evolving over the past decade and the flag has surged in popularity by some opposed to the Black Lives Matter movement. The symbol was displayed alongside the Confederate flag during the violent 'Unite the Right' rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia, in August 2017. "They were all white supremacist groups," Dr Ross said, of the 'Unite the Right' riots. "That was the core factor that united them." The symbol was also worn by some of the insurrectionists during the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Former assistant commissioner of NT Police Jeanette Kerr told the ABC she started noticing the Thin Blue Line patch on a handful of NT Police officers' navy blue uniforms about four years ago. "I've spoken to a couple of young police and it is well known to some of them as a symbol of police solidarity. They reject that it's racism," she said. "But it can't be denied that that's in fact how it's perceived by the community." Ms Kerr left the force in 2017 after serving for 29 years. She has a Masters of Applied Criminology and Police Executive Management from Cambridge University and regularly keeps in contact with former colleagues. She supports NT Police moving to ban the public use of the symbol. "It certainly is up to the executive … Not dealing with these issues seriously undermines the legitimacy of the police force," she said. "It (inaction) can cause lack of trust and reputation in the police … then people stop reporting crime." Police forces in some other parts of Australia prohibit the display of the Thin Blue Line flag. In a statement, Victoria Police told the ABC "the Thin Blue Line patches are currently not approved for wear by Victoria Police officers", while NSW Police said its policy "prohibits the use of non-authorised embellishments on uniforms". Queensland Police told the ABC the symbol is also not an approved part of the uniform, and that while the origins of the concept were meant to be supportive of police, "there are concerns that its message has been misused to advance unrelated agendas". Some police forces across the United States and Canada have reportedly also banned their officers from wearing Thin Blue Line patches, citing their association with white nationalist groups. Dr Kaz Ross said she has noticed the Australian version of the symbol posted in the private Facebook groups of serving and former police officers. "They felt that they [police] weren't valued … were under attack, that they needed more protection and that people didn't really understand the nature of their role," she said. "They used the Thin Blue Line to kind of say, 'Well, police lives matter, blue lives matter and people aren't listening to us'. "So whenever there was some kind of blow-up in the media about police aggression or police violence, you would see a flare-up in these groups." In 2022, Victorian Police Commander Mark Galliott conducted a confidential external review into NT Police's complaints and discipline system. This internal report, marked "sensitive", was made public at the Kumanjayi Walker inquest. As well as documenting instances of racism and bias amongst police, Commander Galliott recommended the NT Police Force consider prohibiting the wearing of the Thin Blue Line insignia patches on police uniforms due to its "negative impact". This recommendation was ignored until last week when the ABC emailed NT Police. Arrernte man Nick Espie — who is a former legal director and special counsel at the Human Rights Law Centre — told the ABC it is a shame the NTPF had not acted on this earlier. "Much more needs to be done to address the inherent risks of racism that occur within the police force," Mr Espie said. "The police need to shift towards being an anti-racist organisation and developing an anti-racism strategy that covers all aspects of policy, procedure and operation." Last month the Executive Director of the NT Police's Community Resilience and Engagement Command, Leanne Liddle, said the NT Police Force is working on a "dedicated anti-racism strategy which is now in its final stages". After the Walker inquest findings were handed down in July, Acting NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said "all forms of racism" have existed within the force at various times. "That is confronting. But it is a truth that we must face," he said. "What was tolerated in the past will no longer be acceptable. We are committed to stamping out racism in all its forms, and making this a safer, fairer organisation for everybody." NT Police did not respond to the ABC's specific questions about racism within the force. "Regarding the use of symbols, patches, or other public displays, the NTPF maintains strict social media and conduct guidelines for all officers, aimed at preventing behaviour that could undermine public trust or contribute to divisiveness," it said in a statement. "We continually review these guidelines to ensure they align with our values of professionalism and respect."

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