Yasmin El-Masri charged with driving disqualified and 50km/h over speed limit while pregnant
A 31-week pregnant woman accused of driving at high speeds while disqualified said she did so because she was having contractions, a court heard.
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A young mother who is accused of driving at excessive speeds while disqualified did so because she thought she was in labour, a court heard.
Yasmin El-Masri, 25, was heavily pregnant when she allegedly drove 50km over the speed limit but may have a medical defence for her actions.
In the Adelaide Magistrates Court last week, Christina Chrisakas, for Ms El-Masri, told the court her client’s charges would be contested.
“Essentially Ms El-Masri was pregnant at the time, she was 31 weeks pregnant,” she said.
“She was driving disqualified and she was speeding – and ultimately we’re saying that she had a defence because she was having contractions and she thought she was in labour.
“Police followed her and escorted her to the hospital, she was assessed so we’re saying it was a medical emergency at the time.”
Court documents sighted by the Messenger allege Ms El-Masri exceeded the speed limit by 45 kilometres or more at St Marys on May 27, 2022.
It is further alleged that the speed limit on Ayliffes Road was 60km/h and Ms El-Masri was travelling at a speed of about 111km/h.
Ms El-Masri, of Gulfview Heights, was also allegedly disqualified from driving at the time of the incident and stated false personal details to police when they pulled her over.
Based off Ms El-Masri’s Instagram profile, her daughter was born in mid July.
Ms El-Masri also recently posted she was expecting another baby with her partner in July this year.
If found guilty, the maximum penalty for an aggravated offence of exceeding the speed limit by 45km/h or more is two years imprisonment and disqualification for a minimum of two years.
An aggravated offence includes when a person drove knowing they were disqualified from driving.
A law defence of necessity operates when the circumstances at hand require someone to break the law in order to avoid even more dire consequences.
A person will need to prove they believed on reasonable grounds that they were placed in a situation of imminent peril and the court will need to be convinced that the act was proportionate to the potential harm.
Magistrate Michael Barnett adjourned Ms El-Masri’s charges until May for further negotiations.
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