A 20-year-old man has been refused bail in Alice Springs after a court heard he allegedly struck and killed a pedestrian with his car, drove away, and later bragged about having killed someone.
Aaron Kemp appeared in the Alice Springs Local Court on 22 October charged with hit-and-run driving causing death over the fatal crash on Len Kittle Drive in May. He is also charged with driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle without a licence while under the influence of alcohol.
What the court heard
According to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, prosecutor Devender Anand told the court that witnesses who were in the car said Mr Kemp was under the influence of alcohol and cannabis when the 57-year-old man was struck.
One witness reported Mr Kemp saying, "I thought I hit a ditch or something", but he "did not bother to stop the car", Mr Anand said.
"The witnesses also stated in their statements that the defendant was unable to maintain steady control of the vehicle," he said.
DNA found on the vehicle's fuel tank was later confirmed to be a match for the dead man, the court heard. Three witnesses placed Mr Kemp in the driver's seat, and there were also allegations the group had taken the vehicle without permission from an aunt.
Why bail was refused
Defence lawyer Kimberly Hammerton applied for bail, telling the court Mr Kemp's family had provided a letter of support and would "ensure that he has a safe and supportive environment" if he were released.
"Mr Kemp instructs me he wishes to stay put, to reside at home and really not leave the house," she said.
"The bail proposal is the strongest that it can be without Mr Kemp residing in a bail facility or a quasi-custodial environment."
Ms Hammerton said her client would face a lengthy stint on remand if bail were refused, and his family was "very concerned" about his mental health "given that he's such a young person in custody for such a serious and obviously devastating matter".
"These matters affect the whole community, and he's well aware of that," she said.
"It's a very significant thing for him to be going through, and for someone at such a young age to be remanded for such a long time is very trying on his mental health."
Mr Anand opposed bail, telling the court Mr Kemp had a criminal history in South Australia, including theft and breaches of bail, and would be a flight risk.
"He has strong ties in South Australia, where he resides, and if he is released on bail it is highly likely that he will return to South Australia and will not attend court proceedings," he said.
Ms Hammerton countered that her client had "handed himself in" after learning police wanted to speak to him, travelling from Port Augusta to attend a police station.
"He may have ties to South Australia, that does not mean that he will flee the jurisdiction," she said.
In refusing bail, Judge Jon Bortoli said the prosecution case "does appear to be strong", citing the DNA evidence taken from the car and the three witnesses who placed Mr Kemp in the driver's seat.
He said he was also concerned about a quote attributed to the defendant some time after the incident: "I killed someone, that's what you call a mad c***."
A long-running case in central Australia
The charges stem from a crash in May that left a 57-year-old man dead on Len Kittle Drive in Alice Springs. A teenager was arrested more than five months after the fatality, News24 reported.
The case adds to a troubling pattern of hit-and-run prosecutions across the country this month. In Western Australia, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that a driver accused of a fatal hit-and-run that killed a cyclist at Bibra Lake in Perth's south has fronted court. The victim in that case, according to 7NEWS, has been remembered as a popular member of Perth's cycling community.
In Alice Springs, road safety and alcohol-related offending remain persistent concerns for local authorities and community organisations, and fatal crashes involving unlicensed drivers and unregistered vehicles place continuing pressure on Northern Territory policing and court resources.
Mr Kemp was remanded in custody and will return to court on 3 December.
FAQ
What is Aaron Kemp accused of?
He is charged with hit-and-run driving causing death over a crash on Len Kittle Drive in Alice Springs in May that killed a 57-year-old man, along with driving an unregistered and uninsured vehicle without a licence while under the influence of alcohol.
Was he granted bail?
No. Judge Jon Bortoli refused bail, citing what he called a strong prosecution case, DNA evidence on the vehicle, and three witnesses who placed Mr Kemp in the driver's seat.
When will the case return to court?
Mr Kemp was remanded in custody and will return to the Alice Springs Local Court on 3 December.