Malika Pa, who drove recklessly with a carload of friends, will spend the next five years in prison for killing one of them;, 21-year old Natsa Teke.
The now 21-year old Pa broke down in tears several times during her sentencing hearing on Friday, especially when the older sister of her victim spoke about her family’s loss.
Akberet Manning forgives Pa for causing the crash, but not for leaving her sister to die on the side of the street.
“I forgive her for what happened,” Manning told King County Superior Court Judge Mariane Spearman, “but I don’t forgive her for what she did after.”
Pa was driving Teke and two other friends on 23rd Avenue South after midnight on OctoberOct. 20, 2013, when she collided with another vehicle. Teke, who had been sitting in the passenger seat, was ejected through the sunroof and was killed.
Pa ran from the scene and did not return to care for her dying friend and the other two injured passengers until at least an hour later.
Her attorney, Nikole Hecklinger explained, that Pa left to get her mother and older sister, and always planned to return as quickly as possible.
But Teke's father, Teke Gebrelase said through a translator, "for"For her to leave the crime scene and leave a dying person there is a big crime."
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Bradford Bales and Teke’s family members also spoke in court of how Pa ignored her passengers’ repeated requests to slow down and drive more carefully before the fatal crash.
According to court documents, Pa was "dancing to the music while speeding" and "driving like she was invincible" before she crossed over the double yellow lines and into oncoming traffic.
Teke had a 3-month-old baby at home the night she was killed.
Her nearly 3-year-old daughter, Nyala, was in court on Friday.
The victim’s cousin, Adiam Ogabi, said, “Not only did she lose her mother so early, she will never have memories of her mother to rely on.”
After Teke’s family addressed the court, Pa accepted full responsibility for Teke’s death and apologized, singling out her dead friend’s daughter.
“There are no words that I can think of in my head to say to her, but she should know that my heart cries, and I’m sorry.”
Cox Media Group
