A driver who struck and killed a Pakistani international student while she appeared to be praying on an Adelaide road has received a suspended prison sentence and a 10-year driving ban.
20-year-old Samia Malik was hit on North East Road in Hillcrest on May 6, 2025. Witness accounts and CCTV footage showed her kneeling in the road for almost four minutes before the collision.
Originally from Sialkot, Malik had moved to Australia hoping to build a better future for herself and her family. Her death left her loved ones in Pakistan devastated and facing the emotional and financial burden of funeral arrangements and returning her body home.
Ashton Jacob Friend, who was 19 at the time, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless use of a vehicle and leaving the scene after causing death.
The court heard that Friend was driving below the speed limit and was not affected by alcohol or drugs. However, he was looking in his rearview mirror during the brief period in which he might have avoided the collision.
Friend said he continued driving because he believed he had hit a kangaroo. He realized a person had been struck after seeing news reports the following day.
Judge Anne Barnett sentenced him to one year, three months, and 29 days in prison, with an eight-month non-parole period. The sentence was suspended on a two-year, $500 good behavior bond, citing his remorse, age, rehabilitation prospects, and the circumstances of the offense.
At an earlier hearing, Friend apologized to Malik’s family and accepted responsibility for his actions and failure to stop.
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