The father of the alleged Heckenberg crash driver has admitted to obstructing police after the tragic 2023 collision that killed two siblings.
Kagadour Hanna Kokozian, 63, appeared in Campbelltown Local Court this week, facing charges for hindering police and concealing an offence. He pleaded guilty to both offences, acknowledging he falsely reported his son’s vehicle as stolen following the fatal incident.
His son, Johnson Kokozian, is accused of causing the crash that killed Alina Kauffman, 24, and her younger brother Ernesto, 15, in Heckenberg, Sydney’s southwest. Authorities allege he was behind the wheel of a high-performance Mercedes AMG SUV at the time of the collision.
False Report After Fatal Collision Raises Legal Stakes
Police revealed Kagadour Kokozian phoned them after learning of the crash, telling them the car had been stolen. During the call, he allegedly told officers, “It’s really bad.” Prosecutors claim his actions obstructed the investigation and delayed the truth from surfacing.
The court heard Johnson had fled to his father’s home after the crash and confessed to driving. Rather than advising him to cooperate with authorities, Kagadour instead made the deceptive call, significantly hindering police efforts.
Prosecutors described the actions as “extremely serious”, pressing for custody. However, defence lawyer Oussama Elfawal argued Kagadour wasn’t fully aware of the severity of the situation at the time and has since cooperated.
Court Hears from Grieving Mother as Legal Proceedings Continue
Despite pleading guilty, Kagadour remains on bail, with Judge Thompson acknowledging the “tragic and serious” nature of the case. He warned the 63-year-old of the “real prospect of a full-time jail sentence.”
Outside court, grieving mother Angelina Kauffman shared her heartbreak. “It’s been hell… I have to get justice for my kids,” she told reporters, her voice filled with pain.
The case continues to unfold, with several others charged. Johnson’s girlfriend, Tiana Savignano, and friend, Cruz Pamoana Davis-Tuka, have also been charged with hindering police and concealing a serious indictable offence.
Savignano, the mother of Johnson’s child, appeared in court where her bail conditions were altered to permit work and contact with Johnson. Davis-Tuka and Savignano will return to court on July 30. None have entered pleas yet.
The Crash That Shook Heckenberg
The crash in September 2023 devastated the Heckenberg community. The Kauffman siblings were killed when their vehicle collided with a Mercedes AMG allegedly driven by Johnson Kokozian. Police arrested him roughly 18 hours later at the Liverpool station.
Charges against him include manslaughter, multiple counts of dangerous driving occasioning death, aggravated dangerous driving, and negligent driving occasioning death. He also faces allegations of failing to stop, driving while disqualified, and exceeding the speed limit by more than 45 km/h.
Kagadour Kokozian is due to appear again in court on July 17, while the rest face continued legal proceedings into late July.
This tragic event has not only led to the loss of young lives but exposed a disturbing web of cover-ups and delayed justice. The community now waits for final court decisions that could bring long-awaited accountability.
