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Woman wins bail over alleged love triangle murder of partner’s ex

A young mother alleged to have used a 4WD to run down and kill her partner’s ex as she left a childcare centre earlier this year has been granted bail.

Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant and Tyler Scott William James.
Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant and Tyler Scott William James.

A mother of three who is alleged to have driven a four-wheel-drive that mowed down and killed her partner’s ex as she left a childcare centre in an “horrific” and “disturbing” incident, has been granted bail.

In Brisbane Supreme Court on Wednesday, Justice Peter Davis agreed to grant 24-year-old Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant bail on a charge of murdering young mum Kiesha Thompson at Daisy Hill on July 17.

Prosecutors have alleged that Sant ran down Thompson in a silver Toyota Prado at the instigation or with the encouragement and assistance of her co-accused and Ms Thompson’s ex-partner, Tyler Scott William James, 27.

If convicted of murder she faces a mandatory sentence of life in prison.

Kiesha Thompson was leaving a childcare centre when she was struck by a vehicle. Picture: QLD Police
Kiesha Thompson was leaving a childcare centre when she was struck by a vehicle. Picture: QLD Police

Prosecutor Nathan Crane alleged that Sant searched Facebook Marketplace for a similar model Prado and then used those licence plates when she allegedly ran down Thompson, and later changed them back.

Mr Crane told the court that Sant also allegedly put the plates on the Prado, two days before the incident, swapping the plates in a shopping centre carpark, then repeated this again on the 17th.

Mr Crane conceded it would have to prove Sant had the intent to kill Ms Thompson at trial.

Defence solicitor Ken Mackenzie from Mackenzie Mitchell told the court his client wanted bail to care for her three kids aged under six and that Sant had the support of her family, including her brother in court to support her.

He submitted she was a low flight-risk given she wanted to be with her kids.

Mr Crane read letters Sant wrote from prison to her mum Donna in August and September.

“I can’t be away from them for that long, I just cant be, I need to get home to them,” Sant wrote.

“I don’t want to spend 15 years in here.

“Please contact Ken to see what we can do about getting the lightest sentence possible.

“I can’t get over the fact that I could very well miss out on the kids lives”

The area where Kiesha Thompson was struck by a Prado. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail
The area where Kiesha Thompson was struck by a Prado. Picture: Lyndon Mechielsen/Courier Mail

Sant was granted bail on condition that she wear a GPS tracker device, report to police three times a week and abide by a strict curfew which is akin to house arrest.

“The Crown have evidence which taken on its face may suggest that there was a good deal of planning by Ms Sant and the gentleman involved before the incident where Ms thomson died,” Justice Davis said in his oral reasons.

“There are some disturbing aspects of the case, it seems the Prado was wearing a false number plate and that after the running down the number plate was changed back to its legitimate one,” he said.

“There is evidence which certainly links the Prado to the accident.

“The Crown case is that because of conflict, between the genetlman and his former partner there was a plan to kill her and this is what then occurred,” Justice Davis said.

“There are indications in correspondence that Ms Sant realises she is in a good deal of peril and has spoken about not wanting to be away from her children,” he said.

Justice Davis said that even if Sant argues at trial that she only intended to scare Ms Thompson and not kill her, she would likely be convicted of manslaughter which carries a significant sentence.

Originally published as Woman wins bail over alleged love triangle murder of partner’s ex

Original URL: https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/queensland/woman-wins-bail-over-alleged-love-triangle-murder-of-partners-ex/news-story/3d065a368e8c95f85e7a75c2b2cf0f9e