River Valley accident: Domestic worker not pleading guilty over death of girl, 4

She is charged with causing grievous hurt by performing a rash act.

January 08, 2025, 11:39 AM

The domestic worker involved in the fatal River Valley accident that led to the death of four-year-old Zara Mei Orlic will be claiming trial to a charge of causing grievous hurt by a rash act.

Lilyana Eva, 32, will not be pleading guilty, her lawyer told a district court on Jan. 8, according to CNA.

The Indonesian national was previously charged on Nov. 6.

According to court documents, Eva was accused of failing to ensure Zara's personal safety.

She allegedly brought Zara to cross the road along Institution Hill at an unsignaled junction without holding onto her.

This allegedly resulted in Zara being hit by an oncoming vehicle, causing serious bodily injuries to the child.

The accident

The accident occurred on Jan. 23, 2024, as Zara was going home with her younger sister and Eva.

After the accident, Zara was sent to a hospital but she passed away from her injuries.

Coroner's inquiry

On Jul. 12, a coroner's court found that Zara died of head injuries after a car collided with her and ran over her leg and head.

Eva was only three steps away when the accident occurred at Institution Hill.

The domestic worker was carrying both girls' school bags and holding the hand of the younger sister.

Previously, the traffic police investigated and found that the driver was not going at a fast speed, and Zara only appeared for a second on the in-vehicle camera before the collision.

Zara was only 100cm tall and was too short to be seen by the driver.

The coroner noted that it was "not surprising that (the driver) did not react to the situation by braking or taking evasive actions", The Straits Times reported.

The coroner added that young children may not be aware of road hazards, and due to their smaller build, they can be easily obscured.

"The need to be vigilant and to take utmost precaution cannot be over-emphasised," he said and conveyed his condolences to Zara's family over the loss of the child.

Out on bail

A pre-trial conference date for Eva is scheduled for Jan. 31.

She is currently out on bail of S$15,000.

If found guilty, Eva could be imprisoned for up to four years, fined up to S$10,000 or both.