Woman charged with murder of Irish teenager in Australia

A woman has appeared in court in Australia charged with the murder of an Irish teenager.

Jacob Cummins, a 17-year-old originally from Dublin, died after being struck by a 4X4 last Thursday on Eucalyptus Boulevard in Canning Vale, Perth. Four other teenagers were seriously injured in the incident.

Western Australia Police began a criminal investigation and 20-year-old Aya Hishmeh has appeared in court charged with the murder of Mr Cummins and the attempted unlawful killing of four other male teenagers, one aged 17 and three aged 16 years.

Ms Hishmeh sobbed as the charges were read out in court and had to be helped from the dock.

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Local media reports say the vehicle was driven up onto a footpath and hit the five teenagers, leaving them scattered injured on the road and in bushes. It is alleged that Ms Hishmeh was driving the vehicle. She has been remanded in custody and will appear in court again in January.

Brawl

In the hours before the fatal collision a pre-arranged fight between two boys from different schools had taken place, with a large crowd looking on.

A further brawl, involving about 60 people, later occurred outside a McDonald’s restaurant, with two of those present suffering minor stab wounds.

"Armadale detectives are continuing to investigate incidents which occurred at a local park on Ranford Road and a fast food restaurant at Livingston Marketplace on Ranford and Nicholson Roads in Canning Vale," a police statement said.

The Cummins family also released a statement saying they were heartbroken.

“Jacob was funny, caring and had a heart of gold,” the statement read. “I would just like everyone to know Jacob was a good kid.

“He loved sport and soccer was his passion. Jacob always wanted to help others and this year did a charity walk for Pieta House suicide prevention.”

The family added he was “just a normal teenager” and criticised comments online about his death and the events that led up to it.

“We ask that you please give us, the family, a chance to grieve in peace and stop all the negative comments and remember a life has been lost, our baby boy’s life,” they said. “Two sets of parents have been destroyed by this and no parent should ever have to go through either ordeal. Rest in peace our beautiful boy.”