A Tragic Hit-and-Run and the Consequences
A woman who ran over a man with her car, then reversed, drove around him, and fled the scene has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. The case took place in Perth, where the court heard that the incident occurred on the same day she attended a wedding.
Analiza Sagang Curtis appeared in the WA District Court for sentencing. She was charged with failing to stop and ensure assistance after causing the death of Jamie Murray in a hit-and-run accident last year. During the hearing, Murray’s family and friends wore shirts with “Justice For Jamie” and were visibly emotional as the details of the case were presented.
The court learned that Murray was on a Dudley Park street when Curtis, who was driving her husband to work in the early hours of the morning, ran him over. According to Curtis’s defense lawyer, Peter Buenaventura, she initially thought she had hit a “bag of rubbish.” She dragged the man about 90 metres before hearing strange noises, reversing, and dislodging the 45-year-old from under the car.
At this point, she realized she had hit a person but instead of stopping to help, she drove around him and went home. About 10 minutes later, a delivery driver found Murray motionless on the road with severe head and arm injuries and called emergency services. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Despite this, Curtis still went ahead and dropped her husband at work before attending a wedding later that afternoon. It wasn’t until her partner sent her a screenshot of a news article about the fatal incident that she found out Murray had died. However, she did not contact the police or go to a station. It was only when officers matched debris from the crash to her car that she was arrested.
Curtis initially lied to the police, claiming her husband had been driving. This was an agreement the couple had made together. However, further investigation led to her being charged with Murray’s death.
Buenaventura told the court that Curtis had been consumed by “pure terror” when she realized what she had done. He described her decision to leave the scene as a “devastating choice” that was out of character. Curtis, who is a Filipino national and heavily pregnant, cried in the dock as the facts were read out.
Buenaventura tried to argue that her pregnancy could be a mitigating factor in her sentencing. However, District Court Judge Laura Christian stated that it was clear Curtis became pregnant after she had been charged. She emphasized that she did not want to provide an incentive for women to get pregnant before sentencing to reduce their punishment.
Buenaventura also mentioned that Curtis wished to deliver a statement to Murray’s family and friends in the courtroom. However, the state said they did not wish to hear what she had to say.
Judge Christian stated that she believed Curtis had been fully aware she had hit a person when she chose to drive away from the scene. While she accepted Curtis was genuinely remorseful, she noted that her actions were callous and that it was clear she had “tried to avoid responsibility.”
She sentenced her to 18 months in prison. Curtis will be eligible for parole after nine months and has been disqualified from driving for two years. Murray’s family gasped when the sentence was handed down.
Key Details of the Case
- Incident: Curtis ran over Jamie Murray, then reversed, drove around him, and fled the scene.
- Reactions: Murray’s family and friends wore shirts with “Justice For Jamie” and were emotional during the hearing.
- Defense Argument: Curtis’s lawyer claimed she thought she had hit a bag of rubbish and was in “pure terror” after realizing her mistake.
- Aftermath: Despite knowing of Murray’s death, Curtis did not contact the police and continued with her day, including attending a wedding.
- Pregnancy: Curtis was heavily pregnant, but the court ruled her pregnancy was not a valid reason for leniency.
- Sentence: She received 18 months in prison and a two-year driving ban.
