A Perth judge has delayed the sentencing of a woman who admitted to a hit-and-run that left a 12-year-old schoolgirl seriously injured, casting doubt on claims that the offender suffers from intellectual disabilities.
Pakistani-Australian Tahira Shaheen, 51, was due to be sentenced for hitting Alexis Lloyd with her car as the schoolgirl walked to Willetton Senior High School on the morning of 27 June 2023. The impact left Alexis with a broken leg, a fractured collarbone and ongoing trauma.
However, it is reported that in the District Court on Tuesday, Judge Laura Christian said the psychological report presented to the court was “just not adding up”.
The report claimed Shaheen had the verbal ability of a 10-year-old and non-verbal reasoning of a six-year-old.
Judge Christian expressed scepticism, citing Shaheen’s two years of college education in Pakistan and her possession of a driver’s licence there. “It just is irreconcilable,” ABC reports.
“I have great difficulty in accepting what’s in this report. In fairness to Ms Shaheen, I have to obtain other information.”
It is reported that Shaheen was driving without a valid Australian licence when she struck the child and fled the scene. She later pleaded guilty to failing to stop and assist after causing grievous bodily harm, failing to report the crash, and driving without authority.
Prosecutors are pushing for immediate imprisonment, arguing that another psychological report would not influence sentencing. But Judge Christian disagreed, noting that if Shaheen’s intellectual disability is verified, it could lessen her culpability and render her unsuitable as an example for general deterrence.
Outside court, Shaheen — wearing a headscarf and surrounded by cameras — insisted the incident was unintentional.
“I apologise. I am mother, I am woman. I am not angel, I am human.”
But Alexis’s mother, Tory Carter, refuted claims that any apology had been offered to their family and criticised the timing of the disability claims. “It’s a stalling tactic, and it’s not fair,” she told media.
“People need to know that you can’t hit a child, drive off, and not come forward.”
Carter said her daughter continues to suffer physically and emotionally, now diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and still nervous around roads.
The case, which gripped the local community after a two-month search led to Shaheen’s arrest following public tip-offs, will now return to court on 17 October, pending a new neuropsychological report.
Support our Journalism
No-nonsense journalism. No paywalls. Whether you’re in Australia, the UK, Canada, the USA, or India, you can support The Australia Today by taking a paid subscription via Patreon or donating via PayPal — and help keep honest, fearless journalism alive.
