Larissa Sant faces court over alleged hit-and-run near Brisbane daycare centre
A woman heard a loud bang and a terrifying scream before seeing the body of a young mother who was allegedly shot dead in the street after leaving nursery, a court heard.
Kiesha Thompson, 23, was hit by a Toyota Landcruiser Prado as she walked home along a footpath from a childcare center at Daisy Hill, south of Brisbane, in July 2024.
One of the accused killers, Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant, was allegedly told to put a fake license plate on the SUV of her partner, Tyler Scott William James, and then drive the vehicle towards James’ former partner, Thompson.
Thompson died in hospital that night.
James was determined to appear in court last month.
Sant attended his hearing via video link at Beenleigh Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he was represented by his barrister Ken Mackenzie.
A witness, Rachel Sok, who lives near where Thompson was allegedly shot, told the court she heard a loud scream.
“It was terrible, really terrible,” he said.
He said he heard an explosion and then saw a 4WD on the wrong side of the road speed away.
“I looked up again, saw the body, and called Triple 0,” he said.
Another witness, Fiona Winterburn, told the court she was walking her dogs on Allamanda Drive when she saw the car swerve and heard a loud explosion.
“I remembered looking down the street… I thought someone hit the sign on the left because that’s what people do,” he said, explaining that the car was going 55 to 65 kilometers per hour.
Ken Mackenzie, representing Sant, noted Winterburn’s statement to police regarding the alleged driver.
“You told the police, ‘I remember seeing a dark hood over someone’s head, I think … you said I could see brown hairs on the hood. The driver was wearing large dark glasses,'” he said.
“After describing the clothes, you told the police, ‘I remember thinking of stupid women after seeing the driver.’
Mackenzie asked if he thought it was a woman because of the clothing. Winterburn said the features of the person’s face led him to believe the person driving the car was a woman.
The trial continues.
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Cloe Read is the Brisbane Times’ crime and courts reporter.Connect with: X or email.
