By Cam Lucadou-Wells
An ice-smoking driver has rear-ended her boyfriend’s car during a hot-tempered and intoxicated pursuit in Narre Warren.
Amina Zjajo, 28, and her partner had been smoking ice at home throughout the day before breaking into an argument in the early hours of an August morning last year, Dandenong Magistrates’ Court heard.
When the partner drove off, Zjajo followed in a gold Audi at about 80km/h on Tinks Road, police alleged.
She collided into the rear of his vehicle as he slowed down at the entry of the Monash Freeway on-ramp. His car then spun around, skidded about 30 metres into the wrong lane and struck a traffic pole.
Zjajo’s car came to rest against her partner’s car. She was taken by ambulance to Dandenong Hospital for mouth injuries.
Her blood sample tested positive for methamphetamine – something she smoked as a means of self-medication for depression, she told police.
At the time, Zjajo’s licence was suspended due to excessive speed, Senior Constable Jimma Jeffs told the court. It was her seventh such offence in the past two years, including receiving a conviction just a month before the latest offence.
She was also charged with breaching an intervention order by banging on the door of a close family member’s house in March.
Magistrate Timothy Bourke said Zjajo was facing a month in jail for her prolific suspended-driving record.
“What doesn’t she understand from coming to court just a month earlier?”
Defence lawyer Emma Strugnell submitted for a community corrections order to tackle the accused’s ice and mental health issues, given her relative youth and not having benefited from CCO programs before.
It would benefit Zjajo and reduce her risk to the community, Ms Strugnell said.
Mr Bourke warned that Zjajo couldn’t expect leniency if she hadn’t sought help for her condition.
He noted she was involved in a serious car accident while affected by ice and driving suspended for the seventh time one month after being in court.
“I accept that you suffer from schizophrenia and other mental health issues, but you’re the person who ultimately controls that.
“The courts are now on notice that you are aware of your mental health issues.”
As an alternative to jail, Zjajo was convicted and placed on a 12-month supervised CCO with treatment, rehab and 100 hours of unpaid work.
She was disqualified from driving for six months.
