Accused crash driver dines at KFC before he goes to police

A young father accused of slamming his dad’s Mercedes Benz into another car, killing a brother and sister, allegedly dined on KFC before going to speak to police about the horror hit-and-run. SEE THE VIDEO

A young father accused of slamming his dad’s Mercedes Benz into another car, killing a brother and sister, allegedly dined on KFC before going to speak to police about the horror hit-and-run.

Video emerged of Johnson Kokozian, 20, sitting with a plate of chicken, chips and gravy in front of him late on Friday night or early the next morning, telling the camera how much he was enjoying the meal.

Police allege that in the hours before Kokozian’s trip to KFC, he was behind the wheel of his father’s $200,000 SUV when it crossed double lines at Heckenberg, in the city’s south west, and collided head on with a car being driven by Alina Kauffman, 24, and her passenger brother Ernesto, 15, killing them instantly.

Parramatta Bail Court was told on Sunday that in the moments after the crash, around 9.30pm, Kokozian and his two passengers freed themselves from the SUV by climbing out the sunroof.

They then allegedly jumped into another car which was travelling behind them, and left the scene. Police said no one from the Mercedes made any effort to check on the Kauffman siblings who were critically injured in their Toyota Yaris.

Johnson Kokozian, 20, allegedly dined on KFC before going to speak to police about the horror hit-and-run.. Pic Facebook

Residents and other motorists who witnessed the horrific accident ran to try and help the brother and sister in the crumpled hatchback, but there was little that could be done to save the pair.

The court heard that investigators were looking for Kokozian until he took himself to Liverpool police station at 2pm on Saturday where he was arrested. He allegedly told investigators he was the front seat passenger, not the driver.

His father, who is the owner of the car, allegedly told police the vehicle had been stolen and that he wasn’t aware his son was in it.

Video of Johnson Kokozian eating KFC before he handed himself in to Police.

Alina Kauffman died in the crash.

Barrister Ertunc Ozen, who unsuccessfully fought for Kokozian’s bail, told the court the accident was a “tragic event” but that there was no definitive evidence his client was the driver.

He said Kokozian had no seatbelt marks on his torso which are common when an accident of that force happens, and that there were two other people in the vehicle who could be the driver.

Family and friends lay flowers where the Kauffman siblings were killed.

Kokozian’s girlfriend wrote a letter to the court saying he had recently been diagnosed with a cyst on his brain which needed medical attention, and that she feared for hers and Kokozian’s safety as social media had been rife with death threats towards them since Friday’s crash.

Magistrate Rob Rabbidge said he was in no doubt Kokozian was the driver, and said the outrage since the crash was typical of people who are “justifiably appalled” when someone dies on the road.

“It’s an appalling situation and it’s apparent it was Mr Kokozian who was the driver...the material satisfies me of that, and I have no hesitation in refusing bail,” Mr Rabbidge said.

Kokozian’s girlfriend wiped tears and blew kisses towards the video screen Kokozian appeared on, as he waved back while wearing handcuffs.

Heartbroken mother Angelina Kauffman spent much of Saturday doorknocking the area where the crash happened, trying to find CCTV of the people allegedly involved in the crash which killed her two children.

She said Alina, a nursing student, had gone to pick up her brother from his new part-time job at Kmart, and the pair was only 200 metres from home when they were killed.

“My kids did not deserve to die,” the distraught mother said.