An 11-year-old boy tragically lost his life after a driver crashed through the perimeter fence of a primary school in Melbourne, colliding with a picnic table where he was seated with friends.
The incident occurred on October 29, 2024, at Auburn South Primary School, resulting in the immediate death of Jack Davey and injuries to three other students. Jack’s father, Michael, expressed his profound sorrow and frustration during a court hearing at Melbourne Magistrates’ Court, seeking accountability for the tragic event.
The driver, identified as 41-year-old Shaymaa Oun Ghazi Zuhaira, tearfully apologized in court after pleading guilty to a charge of careless driving. A second charge related to the control of the vehicle was withdrawn by the prosecutor.
Jack’s mother, Jayde, criticized the single charge against the driver, stating that it did not adequately reflect the severity of the consequences. She questioned the absence of a charge specifically for causing her son’s death, demanding justice for him.
According to the prosecutor, Zuhaira accelerated at a high speed, crashing through the fence and striking the picnic table before the vehicle came to a stop near the school building. Survivors recounted being thrown beneath the car during the harrowing incident.
Zuhaira, who possessed a P2 probationary license, claimed that she experienced a mechanical issue with the accelerator and steering wheel, attributing the lack of control to this malfunction. Her lawyer suggested that past traumas from her life in Iraq were triggered during a meeting with the school principal, affecting her ability to operate the vehicle.
Despite the defense’s arguments, the prosecutor called for Zuhaira to be convicted and receive a community corrections order due to the gravity of the offense. Zuhaira faces potential disqualification from driving but will not serve jail time, with sentencing scheduled for Wednesday.
