An English backpacker arrested over the death of a 51-year-old Perth father is a psychology and criminology graduate who has spent part of her travels volunteering at an animal shelter in the Philippines.
Alicia Kemp, 24, is alleged to have been drunk last Saturday evening when she hired an e-scooter in Perth’s CBD with a friend before allegedly crashing into the back of Thanh Phan, who was waiting to cross the road at the intersections of King and Murray streets just after 8.30pm.
Alicia Kemp, 24, has been on a two-year travel expedition before coming to Perth.Credit: TikTok
The force of the collision caused Phan to fall forward and hit his head. He died from a brain bleed on Tuesday morning.
Kemp’s 26-year-old friend, who had allegedly been evicted from a bar due to intoxication before the crash, was riding on the back of the scooter and suffered a fractured skull and broken nose.
Kemp was arrested and charged at the scene, and on Tuesday had those charges upgraded to dangerous driving occasioning bodily harm and dangerous driving occasioning death.
Alicia Kemp, 24, allegedly killed a pedestrian whilst riding an e-scooter whilst intoxicated on the streets of Perth.Credit: TikTok
Her attempt to be released on bail while the matter proceeds through the courts was denied, with a magistrate stating that she was too great of a flight risk. She faces 20 years in prison if convicted.
Her family are believed to be travelling to Perth to support her, and her boyfriend has been attending court in support.
Kemp is a graduate of Nottingham Trent University in central England, where she studied a bachelor of science in psychology with criminology before completing a masters in forensic mental health.
She graduated in 2022 before working with children in care with emotional, behavioral, physical and intellectual difficulties.
In June 2023, she embarked on a two-year travel expedition where she worked as an English teacher in Vietnam and volunteered at an animal shelter in the Philippines.
Kemp had been in Australia on a four-month working holiday visa and was recently employed at Durty Nelly’s Irish Pub in Perth.
She allegedly had a blood alcohol content of 0.158 when she struck Phan from behind and police claim she was travelling as fast as 20-25km/h before the impact.
Prosecutors told the court Kemp’s “inexplicably dangerous” riding was captured by CCTV, and walkers had to “take evasive action” as Kemp allegedly rode the e-scooter on the footpath in the CBD.
The incident thrust e-scooters into the spotlight, and the City of Perth suspended for-hire e-scooters from midday on Thursday.
“Over the next two days, the scooter providers will go through and collect them off our streets,” City of Perth Deputy Lord Mayor Bruce Reynolds said, as he described Phan’s death as a “tragic event”.
City of Vincent followed suit on Friday.
Meanwhile, WA Police have launched a crackdown on e-rideables, and officers were targeting Perth and Northbridge on Friday and Saturday nights.
Phan, an engineer, was described by his family as “a beloved husband, father of two, brother and dear friend”.
They have urged a review of the safety regulations surrounding e-scooter hire as a result of the tragedy.
Kemp will be back before the courts on July 15.