Driver's Death Ends Legal Pursuit for Family of Lawyer Killed in Sydney Hit-and-Run
The family of a young lawyer fatally struck in a weekend morning incident will not receive legal resolution after the driver allegedly responsible for the tragedy passed away. Zisi Kokotatsios, aged 65, had been accused of illegally using his mobile phone while driving to collect a passenger around 4am on March 17, 2024.
Allegations of Dangerous Driving and Failure to Stop
Kokotatsios allegedly ran over 28-year-old lawyer Mitch East while driving through the Tamarama area in Sydney's eastern suburbs. Prosecutors claimed he failed to stop and assist after the vehicle impact. Emergency services were called to the scene and attempted to revive Mr East, but he was pronounced dead at the location.
The accused driver had pleaded not guilty to charges of dangerous driving occasioning death, and failing to stop and assist after a vehicle impact causing death. On Friday, the Downing Centre District Court was informed that Kokotatsios had died, leading to the withdrawal of all criminal charges against him.
Case Dismissed After Defendant's Death
The criminal matter, which included two backup charges of negligent driving occasioning death and illegally using a mobile phone while driving, has been formally dismissed. According to an online death notice, Kokotatsios died on November 11, with a funeral held at Rookwood Cemetery later that same month.
This legal case had experienced multiple delays following Kokotatsios's arrest in March 2024. He eventually entered his not guilty plea at the Downing Centre Local Court approximately sixteen months later. A trial initially set for August was postponed, and a new trial date had not been confirmed prior to his death.
Remembering the Victim: A Promising Legal Career Cut Short
The alleged victim, Mitch East, was a graduate of Harvard Law School in 2022, as indicated on his LinkedIn profile. At the time of his death, he was working at the Sydney law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler, having begun his legal career in his native New Zealand.
An email sent to the firm's staff following his passing described Mr East as a highly talented lawyer and a popular, valued member of the team. The communication emphasised that his loss would be deeply felt by colleagues and the wider legal community.
