'Stressed' driver made wrong decision during street race that killed Bor Mabil, court told
Bor Mabil, sister of Socceroos rising star Awer Mabil, was killed in a road crash. (ABC News: Isabel Dayman)
A young Adelaide woman charged over a street race that killed the sister of Socceroos player Awer Mabil has suffered a physical attack and been ostracised by her community and church, the District Court has heard.
Key points:
- Alakiir Kelei Deng was driving one of two cars involved in the fatal crash
- She pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving
- The 20-year-old will be sentenced next week
Bor Mabil was killed when the car in which she was a passenger crashed into a fence at Andrew's Farm, in Adelaide's north, in January 2019.
Alakiir Kelei Deng, who was driving the other car, faced the District Court today after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and breaching the conditions of her learner's licence.
The 20-year-old was driving at speed with three passengers inside the car and did not have a qualified supervising driver.
She also had a small amount of alcohol in her system, for which she was not charged.
Prosecutor Leah O'Donnell said Deng would have been driving about 100kph to keep ahead of the other car, driven by Akol Agui Akol, who was jailed over the fatal crash.
"Her vehicle is known to have collided with the curb in almost the same location that Mr Akol's did … it was a result of that collision that Ms Mabil suffered traumatic head injuries and died at the scene," she said.
Deng 'remorseful' for fatal street race
Ms O'Donnell said a psychological report gave little insight into the offending and the only explanation for the impromptu street race was youth, inexperience and poor decision-making.
The court heard that Deng was remorseful and not at high risk of reoffending.
Six victim impact statements were read in court, including from the victim's mother.
"My child's death was not an innocent accident," she wrote in her statement.
The white Audi sedan in which Bor Mabil, sister of Socceroos player Awer Mabil, was killed. (ABC News)
"Every day since my child died, I cannot afford to spend 30 minutes without thinking and crying about the death."
She also outlined the costs she had incurred since her daughter's death, including for the funeral and to accommodate family and friends who had arrived to pay their respects.
Deng's lawyer said he accepted the facts laid out by the prosecutor.
He said the accused encouraged Akol, but would not have known he was impaired by alcohol and MDMA.
"This wasn't planned, it wasn't organised. It wasn't one of those races that start with people revving their engines or challenging each other at a traffic light," he told the court.
"It was a poor decision based on the driving conditions at the time.
"She was under circumstances of some heightened stress. Noises in the car, flashing high beams, rapid approach of Mr Akol from behind."
"She made the poor decision to try to remain in front rather than pull-over … as a result of her youth and inexperience and excitement in the moment."
Accused abused over Facebook
Deng's lawyer also outlined how Ms Deng had been outcast from her community and church since the incident.
"She received abuse on Facebook and people stopped visiting her home," he said.
"There was an incident involving a group of people that did turn violent. Ms Deng suffered some facial injuries, some scratches to her face."
Judge Michael Boylan said he might order a home detention report but Deng should not "get her hopes up about that".
She will be sentenced at a later date.