Two charged over planned hit-and-run death in Daisy Hill

A young mother has been killed in what police allege was a deliberate hit-and-run on a residential street in Daisy Hill, prompting investigators to issue an urgent appeal to the community. The fatal incident has raised fresh concerns about domestic violence escalating to murder in public spaces where locals and their children routinely pass.

Kiesha Thompson, 23, was struck by a Toyota Prado on Friday morning as she walked home from a nearby childcare centre where she had just dropped off her daughter. The collision occurred on Allamanda Drive, a street where residents regularly traverse to access community facilities and schools. Police now allege the hit-and-run was not an accident but a planned murder.

Larissa Rita Mae-Leigh Sant, 24, has been charged with murder (domestic violence). Police allege she was driving the vehicle when it mounted the footpath and struck Thompson. The investigation has expanded dramatically with the arrest and charging of Tyler Scott William James, 27—Thompson's ex-partner—who police allege helped plan the killing. Detectives say the two worked together to orchestrate the murder.

"We will certainly be alleging he was a participant in that murder," Detective Inspector Chris Knight told media. "We believe that he was a participant in the planning and preparation of that offence."

For investigators, the case has proven emotionally difficult. Knight, who has spent more than three decades in homicide investigation, described it as a "horrendous crime" that has taken its toll on the team working the case.

The killing has sent ripples through the Daisy Hill community, where residents must now grapple with the reality that such violence unfolded in a public space during daylight hours. The case underscores how domestic violence, which typically occurs in private settings, can escalate into brazen acts in broad daylight within residential neighbourhoods.

Police have launched a public appeal for information, asking anyone who was in the area on Wednesday, July 17, or on Friday morning to contact investigators. Detectives are seeking dashcam footage or eyewitness accounts. Knight noted that earlier activity on July 17 may be relevant to establishing whether Thompson was being deliberately monitored before the alleged murder.

"We've reached some important milestones as a direct consequence of people contacting Crime Stoppers and speaking with investigators," Knight said. "I want to reaffirm that community appeal because we are still looking for dashcam or witnesses."

Thompson's family has issued a public statement describing the alleged crime as "senseless and cowardly." Her brother Koby Torto said: "She was taken from us in a cowardly act. She had nothing short of a difficult life but in the last couple of years, she worked tirelessly to create the best life for her child who was the absolute light of her life."

The case has left Thompson's young daughter without her mother. The family has established a fundraiser to support the child's future.

Both Sant and James have been remanded in custody pending further court proceedings. Sant was ordered to remain in custody after her mention in Ipswich Magistrates Court, while James is due to face Brisbane Magistrates Court. Neither has entered pleas to the murder charges.

Residents in Daisy Hill are being asked to provide any information that could assist the investigation. Anyone with dashcam footage, witness accounts, or other relevant information is encouraged to contact Crime Stoppers or Queensland Police.