Woman placed in coma after alleged hit-and-run at Brisbane pub

The mother of a man whose partner is fighting for life after they were hit by a car while on a ‘date night’ has shared her ‘uneasy’ feeling before the tragedy, as the man charged over the alleged hit and run faces court. VIDEO

A Bayside couple’s date night has ended in tragedy after they were allegedly struck down in a hit and run incident.

Victoria Point couple, Jaay Edwards, 25, and her partner Cooper Kennedy, 24, were enjoying a date night at the Muay Thai fights at the Alexandra Hills Hotel on Saturday, March 11, when they were allegedly struck down deliberately by a car.

Mr Kennedy’s mother Jacqui Kennedy said she had felt worried in the lead-up to the evening.

“I felt really uneasy because they don’t normally go out anywhere to such an event like this,” Ms Kennedy said.

Jaay Edwards is in an induced coma after she was struck by a car outside the Alexandra Hills Hotel on Saturday about 11.30pm.

“It’s a very rare occasion for them to get out together on their own because they are very much parents who will take their children out to meals with them.

“To go to this sort of event is really unusual.”

Ms Cooper said the couple, who has two children aged two and six months, sent them photos of their outfits and the tickets to the event, showing their excitement.

“Jaay posted ‘date night’ all excited with them getting ready and pictures of them preparing for their exciting night and showing the tickets to the event they were going to,” she said.

“She sent me a beautiful photo of them getting ready, all smiles, and I said to her ‘enjoy yourself and be safe’ and she said ‘always’ and that was the last thing that Jaay said.

“It was supposed to have been a really nice night for them and for it to end in such a tragedy for them … it’s devastating.”

Asked about the mother of his two children, Mr Kennedy said “I love her and hope she makes a full recovery”.

“(I) can’t wait for us to spend time with our children together”.

Jaay Edwards, 25, and her partner Cooper Kennedy, 24, were struck by a vehicle outside The Alexandra Hills Hotel on Saturday, March 11.

Ms Kennedy said the couple had sustained horrific injuries.

Ms Edwards had been placed in a medically induced coma after she was taken to the Princess Alexandra hospital in a critical condition.

“Cooper is in a lot of pain,” Ms Kennedy said.

“He’s in shock too, so he’s trying to process this.

“We are taking him to the hospital today so he can just sit and hold her hand.”

The accused driver, Salisbury resident, Joseph Peter Pritchard, appeared in Cleveland Magistrates Court today, March 13, via video link on two accounts of alleged attempted murder and possessing utensils.

Exterior of Alexandra Hills Hotel. Picture: Richard Walker

Mr Pritchard’s lawyer, Brittany White, said her client would not be applying for bail.

He is due to appear in court again for committal mention on May 4.

Ms Kennedy and her husband attended court today in support of Ms Edwards and their son.

“I came here today for justice for Jaay and wanting to be present here for her,” Ms Kennedy said.

“We came down to the courts today, not out of malice but needing to understand how this unfolded and why.

“We just can’t imagine losing her, it’s just not possible.

“She lives for her children, she loves swimming, she had a very good job that she was returning to at the end of this month.

“They had lots of hopes and dreams of building a future together, getting a boat, boating with the two boys.

“She’s a very intelligent young lady and a very loving partner and mother and we need her home, we need her back, we need her safe and back to be the pillar of her family.

“She’s a good mum and she’s needed and she’s loved.”