Rabih Abdulrahman: Hurstville fatal crash driver pleads guilty
The disqualified driver who horrifically hit and killed a 12-year-old Sydney high school student – then smoked a cigarette as onlookers tried to save the boy – has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
St George Shire Standard
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An unlicensed driver who killed a 12-year-old Sydney high school student when his car ploughed into the defenceless boy in a school zone has pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
Rabih Abdulrahman, 36, lit a cigarette and gazed at the horrific scene after his white Toyota Corolla struck a Sydney Technical High School Year 7 student at the corner of Lily St and Forest Rd outside Hurstville Public School.
Harrowing footage taken by a security camera at a nearby business shows the boy crossing the street when he is hit by the sedan, which came to rest on the school’s fence with the teen trapped underneath.
Abdulrahman, who has been in custody since the devastating crash, today pleaded guilty to manslaughter at Central Local Court.
Magistrate Megan Greenwood committed him to the District Court for sentence and the matter will be heard next on June 5 at Downing Centre District Court.
Some additional charges including driving while disqualified, prohibited drug possession and restricted substance possession have been referred to the District Court on the same date.
Several back-up charges against Abdulrahman have now been withdrawn, including dangerous driving causing death, negligent driving causing death, reckless driving, running a red light, drug driving and resisting police.
The boy’s tragic death left his family and community shattered, with a witness describing the heartbreaking scenes immediately after the fatal impact.
Abas Nazari had just started work as a painter at a home nearby when he heard the crash. “After about two seconds I heard the screaming,” he said.
Mr Nazari said the driver allegedly made no attempt to help after the sickening impact.
“The driver didn’t say anything, he just got out and started smoking — he didn’t try to help,” he said.
St George Acting Superintendent Chief Inspector Craig James said students, parents, teachers, passers-by and an off-duty paramedic tried desperately to save the boy’s life — but he was pronounced dead at Sydney Children’s Hospital.
“It was school drop off time, there were a number of kids being dropped off at school, teachers that ran out to the scene, the general public — this is absolutely awful for them,” Chief Inspector James said.
“As a parent myself I can only imagine what his family is going through.”
Attorney-General Mark Speakman had also signalled his intention to review Abdulrahman’s case after it emerged he was serving a jail sentence in the community for driving offences when the fatal crash occurred.