Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
AAP
AAP
National
Miklos Bolza

'Freaking out': frantic texts in fatal crash cover-up

Laila Moukhallaletti has admitted her role in trying to conceal a fatal hit-and-run crash. (Miklos Bolza/AAP PHOTOS)

A Sydney woman suggested deleting Instagram photos of a car involved in a fatal high-speed hit-and-run collision and said she could provide an alibi for one of the men involved.

Johnson Kokozian, 21, remains on remand on charges stemming from the horrific smash at Heckenberg, in southwest Sydney, on September 1, 2023.

The Mercedes AMG he was allegedly driving smashed head-on into a car carrying siblings Alina Kauffman, 24, and 15-year-old Ernesto Salazar, who were both pronounced dead at the scene.

Laila Moukhallaletti, a 21-year-old woman who is friends with Kokozian, pleaded guilty at Campbelltown Local Court on Wednesday to her role in trying to conceal the hit-and-run collision.

Agreed facts filed with the court show that she told Kokozian's 23-year-old fiancee Tiana Savignano after the crash he had to delete photos of the Mercedes from his Instagram account.

"That's f***ed bro as if he walks away and 2 (people) are dead that's f***ed bro," she texted.

Savignano has also been arrested along with her friend Cruz Pamoana Davis-Tuka, 22, and Johnson's father Kagadour Hanna Kokozian, 63 over their alleged cover-up of the accident.

They are accused of calling triple zero after the crash claiming that the car had been stolen. 

Moukhallaletti was not present for this call.

Police allege Johnson Kokozian, Davis-Tuka and Nicholas Romberg, who has not been charged, were in the vehicle when it collided with Ms Kauffman's Toyota Echo.

The Mercedes sped over a hill in Heckenberg at more than 100km/h, swerving into the oncoming lane before impacting the Toyota head-on and rolling onto its side.

Johnson Kokozian, Davis-Tuka and Mr Romberg then pushed out the sunroof of the vehicle, and asked a passing motorist to take them to hospital, fleeing the scene, the agreed facts say.

Moukhallaletti then spent hours frantically trying to get in touch with her friends over the crash.

Texting Mr Romberg, who never responded, she suggested he use her place as an alibi because she could say he was with her.

Kagadour Kokozian (centre, file image)
Kagadour Kokozian (centre) and other accused have not yet entered pleas over the accident. (Miklos Bolza/AAP PHOTOS)

"I have proof you stayed here last night and can say we went out for dinner," she wrote.

The morning after the collision, she messaged Savignano about the brother and sister who had been killed.

"That poor mum man."

After Johnson Kokozian was arrested on September 2, Moukhallaletti again messaged Mr Romberg saying she was stressing out about him.

"I'm freaking out cause Johnson's been saying bad s*** about you and don't want him to try blaming you for anything," she wrote.

She did not say anything to reporters outside court on Tuesday and will be sentenced on December 13.

Johnson Kokozian, Kagadour Kokozian, Savignano and Davis-Tuka have not entered pleas over the accident.

They will appear at Campbelltown Local Court on October 23.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.