Casey Mallia: Matthew Agius to be sentenced for crash that killed teen girlfriend
A distraught mother has told a court she now knows what “true intense grief” feels like after her teenage daughter was tragically killed when a Toyota HiLux — driven by her boyfriend, who is charged over the death — flipped and crashed.
Penrith
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The mother of a 19-year-old woman killed in a tragic crash near Narrandera in December, 2018, has told a court she “bargained with God” to trade places with her dying daughter.
Casey Mallia was killed when a Toyota HiLux driven by her boyfriend Matthew Agius, 21, flipped on the Sturt Highway in the early hours of December 22, 2018.
Ms Mallia died the next day in a Canberra hospital, while Agius survived the crash despite serious injuries.
He pleaded guilty to dangerous driving charges relating to the crash, which he will be sentenced on in Penrith District Court on August 6.
Kirsty Greenfield, Ms Mallia’s mother, said her daughter was “full of sass and sarcasm, but has such a huge heart and a determination to live life on her terms”.
“She was always ready to help others without a second thought,” she said in a victim impact statement.
“The world was a brighter place with her in it.”
Ms Greenfield said she had experienced all of Casey’s firsts, but never expected to have to endure her lasts.
“I spent two days trying to bargain with God to let me take her place – even after I knew she was gone I kept silently praying for her to recover that I would trade places with her,” she said.
“I now know the true depth of intense grief and it’s all consuming, there is never a moment of peace or escape from it.”
Patrick Mallia, Casey’s father, described the moment he found out his daughter wouldn’t survive the crash.
“They started telling us about Casey’s injuries which was all a bit of a blur,” he said in a victim impact statement.
“The Kirsty asked a question which I thought was ridiculous: ‘Will Casey live?’
“The response that she wouldn’t killed my soul – my life changed forever from that moment.”
Casey’s sister, Ashley Mallia, told the court the day Casey died was the day her “family died”.
“I need her now more than ever,” she said.
“I have had to keep a strong facade and be the daughter my mother needs.
“My mum has expressed to me how often she thinks about just not breathing anymore so she can be with Casey.
“Dad hasn’t told me he wants to stop breathing, but he has expressed many times that he would trade places with Casey in a heartbeat.
“Seeing my 12-year-old sister no longer smile and constantly in a miserable state … has caused me to feel so much stress and worry.”