The mother of a young Western Australian woman who died in a scooter accident in Bali has pleaded with Indonesian police not to lay charges on the 27-year-old’s boyfriend.
Sophia Martini died on Monday in a horrific scooter accident as she rode as a passenger in a scooter driven by her boyfriend, Steele Nugent.
The 23-year-old spent one night in police custody, but has not been named as a suspect and at this stage is still a witness, The Daily Telegraph reported.
Denpasar Traffic Chief, Commissioiner Rahmawaty Ismail told News Corp police were taking the letter into consideration.
Sophia Martini (pictured) was killed in a horrific scooter crash in Bali, and her mother has written to Indonesian authorities, begging them to not press charges against her boyfriend
Ms Martini and Steele Nugent (pictured) had been in the tourist hub of Kuta attending a friend’s wedding before the scooter they were riding spun out of control
‘She said Steele and her daughter have a special relationship and she hopes we would not process the case,’ he said.
Ms Martini’s mother also requested to be able to bring her 27-year-old daughter’s body home to Western Australia.
Police will investigate whether alcohol played a factor in the crash, but Mr Nugent is free to return to Australia under a promise he returns if requested.
The Commissioner explained to dismiss any possible charges against Mr Nugent would be a process called ‘alternative dispute regulation’ and would take place outside of a courtroom.
He says police are still deciding if they would grant Ms Martini’s mother’s wishes.
It is understood Mr Nugent, who escaped serious injury, had been riding the scooter (pictured) as Ms Martini sat behind him
Ms Martini and Mr Nugent had been celebrating a friend’s wedding in the tourist hub of Kuta before tragedy struck on Monday morning, Nine News reported.
Mr Nugent, who escaped serious injury, is understood to have been riding the scooter as Ms Martini sat behind him. Both were wearing helmets.
Ms Martini, from Magnetic Island in Queensland, was rushed to hospital with horrific head injuries and heavy blood loss, but was pronounced dead shortly later.
Tributes have poured in for the woman, who one friend described as ‘such a beautiful person taken from us way too soon’.
‘This was the life that hardly begun, no time to find your place in the sun, no time to do all you could have done,’ another wrote online.
‘You were here one moment, then you were gone. It will be the little things I remember, the smiles, the laughter… Til we meet again, love you.’
These images show the damage to the scooter after the incident in Bali on Monday morning
Maggie Island Bootcamp wrote a tribute on Facebook to Ms Martini, who attended morning classes.
‘We will all miss Soph terribly, a shining light of fun and always smiling. She particularly liked the most challenging of work outs, pushing herself and encouraging others along with her with that determined gentle spirit,’ the post said.
‘We love you Soph and will never forget you. Rest in Peace.’
The tragedy comes after 26-year-old Australian woman Ella Knights was killed in a scooter crash in North Kuta in April.
Police said a passer-by found Ms Knights lying face down in a gutter, with a Honda scooter found lying on its side nearby, the engine still running.
The tragedy comes after 26-year-old Australian woman Ella Knights was killed in a scooter crash in North Kuta in April
In 2016, Lochie Connaughton, from Orange Central West region of New South Wales, died when his scooter collided with a concrete separator in Kuta
In 2016, Lochie Connaughton, from Orange Central West region of New South Wales, died when his scooter collided with a concrete separator in Kuta.
Just weeks later, Melbourne firefighter Adrian Newton was killed when his scooter reportedly crashed into a garbage truck, also in Kuta.
On its SmartTraveller website, The Department of Foreign Affairs warns of the dangers of using motorbikes in Bali.
‘A number of foreigners, including Australians, have been killed or seriously injured in motorcycle accidents in tourist areas, particularly in Bali,’ the site reads.