UPDATE: A Sydney man has just pleaded guilty to charges stemming from a horrific crash that resulted in the tragic deaths of a young woman and her teenage brother. Johnson Kokozian, 28, appeared via videolink in Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday, where he admitted to multiple serious offenses, including aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death.
The devastating accident occurred in Heckenberg in September 2023, when Kokozian was driving a black Mercedes that collided head-on with a Toyota Echo. The victims, Alina Kauffman, 24, and her brother Ernesto Salazer, 15, were just 100 meters from their home when their lives were tragically cut short. Despite the swift response from paramedics, both siblings died at the scene.
Witnesses reported that the occupants of the black Mercedes fled the crash site immediately. Kokozian later surrendered to authorities at Liverpool police station, where he was arrested and charged with a series of offenses. On Wednesday, he faced the court where he pled guilty to two counts of aggravated dangerous driving occasioning death and two counts of failing to stop and assist after the vehicle impact causing death.
As the court proceedings unfolded, family members of the deceased siblings were present, visibly affected by the emotional toll of the case. Kokozian’s guilty plea also resulted in several charges being withdrawn, including two counts of manslaughter and one count of negligent driving.
In a brief exchange, Magistrate Shane McAnulty informed Kokozian that his case would be committed to the District Court for sentencing. “Yep,” he responded, acknowledging the serious nature of the charges.
Kokozian is scheduled to return to court next month for sentencing proceedings. The community mourns the loss of Alina and Ernesto, whose lives were tragically altered in a matter of seconds.
This developing story highlights the urgent need for road safety and responsible driving. Stay tuned for more updates as this case progresses.
