Driver avoids jail for fatal hit-and-run on praying student

A young driver has avoided jail time for a hit-and-run that killed an international student who was kneeling in the middle of a road, appearing to pray. Ashton Friend, 20, pleaded guilty to causing death by careless use of a motor vehicle and leaving the scene of an accident after striking Samia Malik with his car on May 6, 2025, in Hillcrest, Adelaide.

The South Australian District Court heard that Malik had been kneeling for four minutes before Friend's car struck her around 11 p.m. CCTV footage showed her hands in what appeared to be a praying motion. Friend, who was driving home from his girlfriend's house, told the court he did not realize he had hit a person, initially hoping it had been an animal. He stated that due to limited damage to his car, he assumed he had not struck a person and failed to stop.

Friend's defense barrister submitted that he was "at a loss" as to what had happened and had been checking his rear-view mirror but did not see Malik. He realized the gravity of the situation after seeing news reports of Malik's death, which sent him into a "state of paralysis." He was identified by police a week later and arrested. Friend was not under the influence of drugs or alcohol and was not speeding at the time of the incident.

In an apology read to Malik's family, Friend expressed his deep remorse for the loss of life and the trauma caused. "There is no excuse for my actions, or my failure to act — and I should have acted. I do not place responsibility on anyone else; it is mine alone," he stated.

Malik's sister, Qudisya Malik, shared in a victim impact statement that grief had become a constant part of her life, with each milestone reminding the family of Samia's absence. "Nothing can ever replace Samia. We have lost a daughter, a sister, a friend and a remarkable young woman who had so much life ahead of her," the statement read.

Prosecutor Frank Niemann noted that other drivers had managed to swerve around Malik in the lead-up to the incident, and a police car further behind Friend also had time to stop. Niemann emphasized that Friend did not turn himself in, even after realizing his involvement, and was only apprehended through police investigation.

Judge Anne Barnett sentenced Friend to a suspended sentence of one year, three months, and 29 days, with a non-parole period of eight months. He must also be of good behavior for two years. The reason for Malik being in the road at the time of the incident remains unexplained.