A Pakistani-origin Perth mother who struck a 12-year-old girl on a school crossing and then fled has been jailed for 16 months after a court heard she later claimed she thought she had driven over a “musical instrument”.
Tahira Shaheen, now 52, hit Year 7 student Alexis Lloyd as the schoolgirl used a pedestrian crossing outside Willetton Senior High School about 8.30am on 26 June 2023.
Alexis suffered a broken leg and collarbone and spent weeks in a wheelchair recovering from surgery.
It is reported that Shaheen was a learner driver at the time and was driving unsupervised without displaying her L plates. Instead of stopping, she drove on — later telling police she panicked and was embarrassed because her own child attended the same school.
The District Court of Western Australia heard Shaheen gave multiple accounts of what happened. She initially told her husband she did not know how her car had been damaged. In another version, she claimed she believed she had run over a large musical instrument.
Judge Laura Christian rejected her explanations, saying Shaheen’s decision to leave the scene showed a “callous” disregard for the child she had hit.
“You had no idea whether that person you hit was dead or alive,” Judge Christian said, adding that embarrassment alone could not explain why Shaheen failed to call for help.
“The only rational conclusion is that you knew you would be in trouble.”
Police charged Shaheen more than two months after the crash, following an investigation into why she failed to stop, render assistance or report the incident. During that period, her son returned home saying a student had been hit by a car, while her husband noticed damage to their vehicle and urged her to come forward.
The court was told Shaheen, who was born in Pakistan, had been described by her lawyer as part of a subculture where she was “entirely dependent” on her husband. She had previously begun a master’s degree in psychology in Pakistan and recently completed a Certificate III in aged care. She has since obtained her full Australian driver’s licence — a revelation that shocked the victim’s family.
Outside court, Alexis’s mother, Tory Carter, told media that the sentence finally delivered justice for her daughter.
“This is what I was hoping for,” she said. “Not so much for her — I’m sure she’s a lovely lady — but this does need to send a clear message that you can’t do that.”
“We hope the outcome sends a strong message that leaving the scene of a crime and failing to take responsibility is unacceptable.”
Carter said Alexis was recovering well physically but the emotional toll would linger. “She’s a trouper,” she said.
Shaheen must serve at least eight months before becoming eligible for parole.
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.
