The heartbroken mother of two children who tragically lost their lives in a high-speed collision has condemned an attempted cover-up by the driver’s father, describing it as an act of cowardice and a stark absence of humanity.
Kagadour Hanna Kokozian, aged 64, was aware that his son, Johnson, had been driving the brand-new SUV involved in the deadly crash. Despite this knowledge, he chose to report the vehicle as stolen, attempting to shield his son from responsibility.
Alina Kauffman, 24, and her younger brother Ernesto Salazar, 15, perished at the scene of the horrific accident.
During a sentencing hearing at Campbelltown District Court on Friday, their grieving mother, Angelina Kauffman, faced the elder Kokozian, wearing a sweater adorned with images of her beloved children. Her anger and sorrow were palpable as she delivered her victim impact statement.
“I hope one day, when it is your time, that God shows you the truth of what you have done,” she declared, her voice filled with raw emotion.
“I do not believe there is a place in heaven or hell that can hold the weight of your actions,” she continued, expressing the profound pain and sense of injustice she felt.
She said the 64-year-old showed cowardice and a lack of humanity by caring about his son and the car over the lives of her children.
He bowed his head, staring at the floor, as the words washed over him.
Johnson Kokozian, 23, was taking his friends on a joyride in his brand new SUV when he tried to overtake a car at Heckenberg, in south-west Sydney, in September 2023.
The suspended driver had crossed the Mercedes-Benz AMG onto the wrong side of the road at double the 50km/h speed limit when he crashed head-on into a car containing the two siblings.
He fled without stopping to help.
Ms Kauffman expressed rage at the elder Kokozian who had handed car keys to his son despite knowing he was unlicensed and reckless.
“You did not just fail as a parent – you raised someone who became a danger to society,” she said.
“The difference between you and I, Kagadour Kokozian, is I can say with all my heart and soul that I’m proud of all my beautiful children.”
The 64-year-old has pleaded guilty to hindering a police investigation and concealing an indictable offence.
He was at a granny flat soon after the crash when Johnson’s fiancee Tiana Savignano called Triple Zero to report the SUV was stolen, Judge David Arnott heard on Friday.
He then falsely told police the car was stolen and he did not know the identity of the driver.
Defence barrister Alex Cassels said his 64-year-old client had acted out of loyalty to his son but had since shown remorse for his actions.
A letter of apology was tendered to the court but not read out.
The former kitchen hand should be issued a non-custodial sentence via a community corrections order, Cassels submitted.
Kokozian Sr has been diagnosed with acute stress disorder with his defence team arguing this affected his decision-making at the time.
However, this was rejected by the crown prosecutor who said he was still able to make considered decisions about his conduct.
This included deciding to go to the scene of the crash where he discovered two people had died, the prosecutor said.
The 64-year-old had also told a psychologist he was influenced by his son and Savignano to lie about the crash despite being the eldest one of the trio, the court heard.
Kokozian Sr will learn his fate on May 14.
After the hearing, he did not answer questions as he walked to a waiting car while being shielded by a supporter.
In March, his son was jailed for nine years, with a non-parole period of five-and-a-half years.
With time served, he will be eligible for release in three years.
Kokozian’s passenger in the Mercedes, Cruz Pamoana Davis-Tuka, received a 15-month intensive corrections order in 2025 for his role in concealing the crash and hindering police.
Savignano will contest the same charges in the NSW District Court this year after pleading not guilty.
