A 52-year-old learner driver who struck a 12-year-old girl on a school crossing in Perth and drove off without helping has been sentenced to 16 months in jail. Tahira Shaheen must serve at least eight months before being eligible for parole.
The Perth District Court heard that in June 2023, Shaheen, who was 49 at the time, hit Alexis Lloyd at a pedestrian crossing in a school zone in Willetton. The crossing guard had placed flags and was escorting the girl across the road when Shaheen's hatchback struck her. Alexis suffered a broken leg and collarbone and required a wheelchair for weeks.
Shaheen, who was driving unsupervised with only a learner's permit and without displaying L-plates, did not stop or report the incident. She later told police she panicked and was embarrassed. Judge Laura Christian described Shaheen as 'callous' for failing to check if the girl was alive and noted she had given multiple conflicting explanations, including telling her husband she did not know how the damage occurred and claiming she had run over a large musical instrument.
Defence lawyer Shash Nigam said Shaheen, born in Pakistan, was part of a subculture and entirely dependent on her husband, but had been trying to encourage younger women in her community to be independent. The court heard Shaheen has since obtained her driver's licence.
Outside court, Alexis's mother, Tory Carter, welcomed the sentence, saying it brought justice and sent a message that leaving the scene of a crime is unacceptable. She expressed shock that Shaheen had obtained a licence after the incident. Judge Christian noted Shaheen suffers from depression and anxiety but rejected claims of an intellectual disability.
