Kiesha Thompson said goodbye to her daughter as she dropped her at daycare on Friday morning. Walking back to her home in Daisy Hill South of Brisbane, she was struck by a car.
The driver of the wheel immediately left the scene in the Toyota Prado. Thompson was rushed to hospital and died a few hours later.
She was only 23. A young mother who police allege was callously struck down as she was going about her morning, walking home after the childcare drop, as so many women do, every day.
Two people have now been charged with her murder in what police are describing as a domestic violence-related incident.
The first, a 24-year-old woman who police allege was driving the vehicle, was charged over the weekend.
Police revealed on Tuesday morning they had charged a second person, a 27-year-old man, who police allege was not in the vehicle but was involved in the “planning and preparation” of the hit and run.
Planning and preparation.
The words are hard to fathom in relation to such an alleged act of violence – to consider the actions a young mother would take as she went about her regular morning routine.
But the words “planning” and “planned” have been used frequently in recent months, regarding the brutal alleged murders of women and children.
Thompson is one of eight women killed by violence in Australia in just the past four weeks alone, according to Counting Dead Woman and Destroy The Joint. She is one of 44 women killed so far this year – a figure that far exceeds the number of women killed this time last year. These figures do not include the children who’ve been killed by violence in recent weeks, including three children in NSW, allegedly killed by their father in an intentional house fire.
Thompson’s family released a video on Monday, sharing their grief and devastating loss and a promise to look after the baby girl who they said was the absolute “light” of Thompson’s life.
“My sister Kiesha had nothing short of a difficult life, but in the past couple years she worked tirelessly to create the best life for not only her but her child, who is the absolute light of her life,” Thomspson’s brother Koby Torto said in the video.
“I cannot stress enough that her daughter was the absolute light of her life and we’re here to support her throughout her whole life.”
Sharing more details about the investigation this morning, Queensland police said Tyler Scott William James, who has now been charged with murder, had been in a relationship with Thomson until a few months ago and was in a relationship with the woman behind the wheel of the 4WD, Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant. Both remain in custody on remand.
“We believe he was involved in actions other than driving the car,” Detective Inspector Chris Knight told media Tuesday morning.
The 4WD involved in the incident had been seen lingering in the area for a period before the crash, leading police to initially believe it was not a “random traffic accident”.
Detective Inspector Knight said police have gone through a “tenacious” investigation, adding that in his 30-year investigative career, the bulk of it in homicide, there are details identified in this investigation that will stick with him forever.
While he noted the milestones that had been achieved in the investigation, he noted the pain the family was experiencing and the fact that nothing will bring Thompson back.
“They are grieving the loss of a niece, a sister, a mother. While the arrests made are important milestones as far as the investigation, we don’t lose sight of the fact – this doesn’t change a great deal in their eyes. They are still without their loved one. Nothing we or anyone can do can change that.”
It’s another horrible story, in a year in which 44 women have already been killed by violence – far exceeding the number recorded this time in 2023.
If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services.
If you are concerned about your behaviour or use of violence, you can contact the Men’s Referral Service on 1300 766 491 or visit http://www.ntv.org.au.
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