Dad's lies for son after two die in crash
'It's an emergency,' one of the men declared.
Just a short drive away, an empty Mercedes lay flipped on its side, metres away from a severely damaged and smoking Toyota Echo, the bodies of 24-year-old Alina Kauffman and her teenage brother Ernesto inside, according to court documents.
Johnson Kokozian, 22, allegedly drove the Mercedes nearly 60km/h above the speed limit before colliding head-on with the Toyota Echo in Heckenberg on September 1, 2023, the two siblings dying following the horror crash.
Johnson and his friends allegedly climbed out of the wreckage through the sunroof of the luxury car and showed up at his dad's door, who then proceeded to lie to police and falsely report the Mercedes as stolen.
Among the charges Johnson faces are two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death. He has not yet entered any pleas.
His father, Kagadour Hanna Kokozian, pleaded guilty to hindering an investigation and concealing the offence of another person.
New details revealed in the agreed facts of Kagadour's case describe the events that unfolded in the aftermath of the crash, including the lies the 63-year-old father told police to protect his son. Kagadour Hanna Kokozian has pleaded guilty to hindering an investigation and concealing the offence of another person following a fatal crash in 2023. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia
According to the facts sheet, seen by NewsWire, the Mercedes — which Johnson had only collected earlier that day — reached speeds of up to 109km/h in a 50km/h zone before the collision.
A witness driving a Volkswagen in the area told police the Mercedes got so close to his car at one stage the headlights 'disappeared' from the view of his rear view mirror, the court documents stated.
The Mercedes allegedly accelerated before crossing to the wrong side of the road and crashing head on with the Toyota Echo, killing Ms Kauffman and her younger brother and hitting a parked Rav-4, according to court documents.
Johnson and his friends allegedly climbed out of the Mercedes – now flipped on its side – through the sunroof, screaming at the driver of the Volkswagen to take them to the hospital before instead directing him to the home of Johnson's father, according to court documents. Johnson Kokozian was charged with two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, among other charges, but has not yet entered any pleas. Facebook Credit: Supplied Kagadour lied to police by reporting the Mercedes as stolen, subsequently hindering the investigation. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia
Knocking on the door and telling Kagadour 'it's an emergency', the father was told the car had been crashed and his son was the alleged driver.
Kagadour asked to be taken to the scene by one of his son's friends, remarking 'it's really bad' upon arriving, court documents reveal.
Kagadour later told police he asked his son what was happening over the phone from the scene of the crash 'because people were saying two people were dead'.
'He asked his son if he was involved but his son closed the phone,' court documents stated.
Kagadour was then driven to the home of his son's fiancee, Tiana Savignano, where Johnson and one of the passengers of the Mercedes, Cruz Davis-Tuka, were also located.
There, Ms Savignano called police and told them she'd been shopping with her father-in-law when his car was stolen, court documents state.
Kagadour also spoke, telling the operator that he had 'heard the noise and they took the car' after he came back from shopping with his son.
'We bought the car today and we went shopping and my son and we come back, I'm a little bit sick, I'm inside and I come out, no car so I don't know what happened. I heard the noise and they took the car,' Kagadour told the operator. He will be sentenced in September. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia
The following afternoon police attended his home for a second time and to raise concerns his son was involved in the fatal crash, to which Kagadour told officers: 'The car was parked here. When I came back it was stolen.'
His son was arrested that afternoon, and Kagadour told police that he wanted to change his statement later that night.
'I'm not saying that, uh, my son innocent or I'm innocent, but I want to make sure everything OK … I don't want to get, uh, involved in, like, you know what I mean. I'm 62 years old, I'm sick …' Kagadour said, according to court documents.
He told police he'd returned home, saw the car's key on the table and thought the Mercedes had been stolen.
Kagadour also said he'd been taken to the scene of the accident, but he didn't know who had been driving the car.
'Somebody took me to see the car accident, but I don't know it was that car in the accident,' Mr Kokozian said.
Kagadour then told police everything he'd said in his original statement was right, but he also wasn't sure if the car was stolen.
Kagadour was arrested days later on September 6 and in a recorded police interview admitted to lying to the triple-0 operator about the car being stolen.
It is not alleged Mr Kokozian was aware of the manner of his son's alleged driving, the documents state.
Mr Kokozian's son, Johnson, faces charges including manslaughter, two counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, two counts of aggravated dangerous driving causing death, and one count of negligent driving occasioning death.
He is also accused of failing to stop and assist after the crash, driving while disqualified and exceeding the speed limit by more than 45km.
Ms Savignano and Mr Davis-Tuka were both charged with conceal a serious indictable offence and hinder police in their investigation into the crash.
All three are yet to enter pleas.
Kagadour is expected to be sentenced in October.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Perth Now
Alleged murder victim ‘bit of a trickster'
Alleged murder victim Julian Story has been remembered as a 'very talented musician' and a 'bit of a trickster' as he was farewelled by loved ones at his funeral. Father Paul Bourke said the funeral at St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church in South Australia on Wednesday was a 'very joyful celebration' of Mr Story's life. Mr Story's girlfriend and former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser allegedly murdered him on June 17, and removed his head at the couple's unit in Port Lincoln. But Fr Bourke said said the family had been helped by the support of the community 'across every aspect of life here at Port Lincoln'. Julian Story has been remembered as a talented musician. Supplied by family Credit: Supplied Father Paul Bourke spoke after the service. NewsWire / Mark Thomas Credit: News Corp Australia 'During the service, I mentioned today – August the 6th – is Hiroshima Day and (talked about) the atomic bomb, and the destruction and the devastation of that, and how life has grown again,' Fr Burke said. 'Certainly, Julian's family have been through such a traumatic time, but they are strong people supported by the community. 'They've got their own faith and their own beliefs in life, and that will certainly get them through.' Mr Story loved animals and music, as well as helping his father and grandparents in rural work, mourners were told. During the service, images of Mr Story were shown on a screen and some music he wrote was also on display. Father Paul Bourke said Mr Story's family had been through a traumatic time. NewsWire / Mark Thomas Credit: News Corp Australia The funeral was held at St Mary of the Angels Catholic Church. NewsWire / Mark Thomas Credit: News Corp Australia His body was found two days after he died following a small fire at the unit and Ms Chesser was arrested in the yard of the home. His head wasn't found until last week. Mr Story was a Port Lincoln local, while Ms Chesser had only recently moved to the area from Queensland. Ms Chesser has been charged with murder, destroying human remains and assaulting a police officer. She is yet to enter pleas. Julian Story was aged 39 when he died. Credit: Supplied Former reality TV star Tamika Chesser has been charged with murder. Supplied Credit: Supplied Last week, Mr Story's head was finally found in bushland by a man walking two dogs. 'The dog ran off into the scrub, it didn't come back when called,' Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke told reporters last Thursday. '(The man) had to walk into the scrub area to find it (the skull). (The remains) were not buried. They were quite out in the open.' The detective said the cause of death was still being investigated and a motive remained unknown. Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke gave an update on the case last week. NewsWire / Naomi Jellicoe Credit: News Corp Australia Ms Chesser is currently being held at psychiatric facility James Nash House. She starred in the second series of the hit reality TV show Beauty and the Geek in 2010, finishing in second place. She has also worked as a model for several brands, including Target, and appeared in men's magazines, including Ralph and FHM, according to her profile on Star Now.
Perth Now
9 hours ago
- Perth Now
Perv sentenced after spying on women
A Chilean who used a tiny camera to spy on women showering has been told Australia 'doesn't want him here'. Luis Alberto Cancino Mena recorded videos for months before the device was spotted by cleaners at a home in Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. Mena, 39, pleaded guilty to three separate charges of filming a person without their consent and appeared at Waverley Local Court on Wednesday where he was given a nine month intensive corrections order. Sentencing Mena, Magistrate Michael Barko said the impact of his crimes would cause anxiety for the victims for the rest of their lives. He said: 'Pornography is not illegal, but when innocent women get filmed without consent it beggars belief, it's a perversion, it has to be a perversion. 'These women for the rest of their lives are going to think, 'Are these images going to be shared on the World Wide Web?' 'The defendant at the time was here with the privilege of being allowed in this country, he's expressed the desire to return to his homeland of Chile. 'Quite frankly the Australian public doesn't want him here.' Luis Alberto Cancino Mena leaving Waverley Court on Wednesday after sentencing. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia According to court documents, Mena's behaviour went undetected for months until cleaners stumbled upon the device in early February. 'The cleaners of the premises attended the location and begun cleaning as per the agreement in place. They were cleaning the bathroom before locating a recording camera device which was in the shape of a pen on the ground of the bathroom. The cleaner pulled apart the device and observed it to be recording,' court documents said. 'The storage device was accessed by the cleaners and they observed recording files of the victim with no clothes on taking a shower.' Police say one recording 'clearly shows the accused setting the camera up in the bathroom'. After arresting Mena, police seized the man's laptop where they found folders marked under the names of the victims. Footage taken from the hidden camera had been catalogued based on who it was recording, and was then placed into the folder allocated to that person. Luis Mena was sentenced to a nine month intensive corrections order. NewsWire / Nikki Short Credit: News Corp Australia In coming to his decision, Magistrate Barko noted the considerable effort Mena went to in buying the pen with a camera in it, getting the SIM card and downloading the footage, saying 'it's not as though you're picking up a box of chocolates from Woolworths'. He also queried the mindset of Mena, when pornography was easily accessible online. 'With all that's accessible on the internet, all that's accessible on social media, all that's accessible with the push of a button, why someone has to acquire a camera, to film the private parts … of three completely innocent victims,' he said. Mena must adhere to strict bail conditions including submitting to supervision by a Community Corrections Officer, or risk jail time. Magistrate Barko also handed Mena an AVO order prohibiting him from contacting the victims for two years.
Perth Now
14 hours ago
- Perth Now
Alleged text after wife drowns revealed
A former army major charged with killing his wife on a kayaking trip allegedly texted a friend years after she drowned, saying there were 'lots of western divorcees' in Thailand because 'there are no de-facto laws and you can't lose 50 per cent of your s**t'. The text allegedly sent by Graeme Davidson in 2023 - three years after his wife Jacqueline drowned while the couple were kayaking north of Brisbane - was aired during a bail application at Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday. A judge is yet to rule on whether Mr Davidson, who held ranks in the British and Australian Armies, will be granted bail despite submissions continuing over a week. Mr Davidson is facing a single charge of murder in relation to Jacqueline's death. No plea has been entered. The couple were kayaking on Lake Samsonvale in Petrie on November 27, 2020 when Jacqueline drowned and could not be revived. Graeme Davidson is charged with the murder of his wife Jacqueline, after she drowned while the couple were kayaking in Petrie in 2020. Supplied Credit: Supplied Police allege Mr Davidson was involved in his wife's death. He is also charged with fraud and attempted fraud, relating to allegations he tried to claim almost $1m in life insurance payouts following his wife's death. No pleas have been entered. Mr Davidson's barrister Craig Eberhardt KC has made lengthy submissions over the course of the bail application, attesting to the weakness of the Crown's case and the strength of the evidence against his client. On Wednesday, crown prosecutor Caroline Marco argued it only needed to be determined whether Mr Davidson had shown cause as to why his detention in custody was unjustified, not to rule on the strength of the case. Ms Davidson could not be revived after she was pulled from the waters of Lake Samsonvale. Supplied / Channel 9 Credit: Supplied She told the court the case against Mr Davidson was circumstantial – noting inconsistencies in statements he allegedly gave about his wife's death. They allegedly include telling witnesses that she 'jumped, or dove' into the water from the kayak and that she was still 'alive', 'conscious' when she was pulled to shore. Ms Marco said Mr Davidson's phone allegedly 'ceased to exist on the network' at 11.14am - three-and-a-half hours before the triple-0 call and an hour after the couple set off on their kayaks. 'Some... explanations may be that the phone was switched off, it was otherwise inoperable, on flight mode or not connecting with the tower,' Ms Marco said. Crown Prosecutor Caroline Marco said Mr Davidson posed an 'unacceptable risk' if released on bail. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia Craig Eberhardt KC, who is representing Mr Davidson. NewsWire / John Gass Credit: News Corp Australia The court was told Mr Davidson had given no explanation for why it was not on the network. Ms Marco said the device had never been recovered and there was 'inexplicable evidence' of its disconnection from the network. She said Mr Davidson posed an 'unacceptable risk' of 'interfering with witnesses or obstructing the course of justice'. 'There's inexplicable evidence of its disconnection to the network,' she said. 'There had to be a reason why it could not be used to render assistance to Jacqueline, and therefore to justify the course that was taken of walking her two kilometres back to the boat ramp.' Ms Marco said the risk of Mr Davidson failing to appear was due to the mandatory penalty of life imprisonment he faced if convicted, in addition to his lack of ties to Australia, as he had only returned from Thailand twice since his wife's death. The court was told Mr Davidson allegedly texted a friend three years after Jacqueline's death, describing himself as a 'cliche' because he was an 'older man married to a younger woman'. The court was told Mr Davidson's phone had not been recovered and allegedly 'ceased to exist on the network' an hour before the kayaking trip. Supplied / Channel 9 Credit: Supplied It was allegedly followed by the comment: 'There are lots of western divorcees out here because are no de facto rules and you can't lose 50 per cent of your s--t'. Ms Marco said this exchange went to allegations that Mr Davidson expressed concerns about 'dividing assets' in the event of a failed relationship. The court has previously been told Ms Davidson discovered her husband was having an affair with a woman in Papua New Guinea in 2019, leading to a strain in their marriage. She referenced an exchange Mr Davidson had with his friend Chesty in the years prior to Jacqueline's death, where he had allegedly said he would kill his wife and move to Thailand if she ever 'sought a divorce and made a claim to his military pension'. Mr Eberhardt described it as a 'quip' as the pair were discussing how, on the day of Chesty's retirement, his wife announced she was leaving him, taking half his assets and moving to Thailand. 'My learned friend described this as a 'quip', but Your Honour can see it's not supported by (Chesty's) evidence... it shocked him,' Ms Marco said. Mr Eberhardt said there was no suggestion his client had fled Australia's jurisdiction by moving to Thailand as he had maintained contact with police and the Coroner's Court in the years since Jacqueline's death. Mr Davidson is alleged to have texted a friend about divorce in Thailand in 2023. Queensland Police Service Credit: News Corp Australia The court was told Mr Davidson was still receiving military pensions from both the Australian and British governments. 'It's not as if he's a Tony Mokbel, who had the criminal contacts and resources to escape... this fellow is an otherwise law-abiding citizen who has been a commissioned officer in both the British and the Australian Army for many, many years,' Mr Eberhardt said. Mr Davidson was prepared to report daily, offer a substantial $250,000 surety offered by his family members, not go near international departure points, abide to a curfew and wear an ankle bracelet as part of his bail conditions. He also indicated he would surrender both his Australian and British passports. Justice Sullivan will deliver his decision on Mr Davidson's bail application on Friday.
