Subj : Tributes flow for Kiwi lawyer killed in suspected Sydney hit and run
To   : All
From : News Person
Date : Tue Mar 19 2024 01:23 pm

New South Wales Police have set up a strike force to find the unidentified
driver in the white SUV they believe was involved in a suspected hit-and-run
that killed Kiwi lawyer Mitch East.

The 28-year-old was found heavily bleeding on Fletcher St just metres away
from his home, south of Bondi Beach, early Sunday morning. Despite the best
efforts of paramedics, he died at the scene.

It's understood he lived in the home with his partner.

Neighbours 1News spoke to said they heard a loud bang followed by a car alarm
early Sunday morning.

"It was horrible, I was out walking early and saw him lying there, there were
police everywhere," one neighbour said.

"I hope they find the person."

New South Wales Police have now set up a strike force to find the
unidentified driver of a white SUV pictured in CCTV they obtained.

Authorities have spent the last two days door-knocking for information around
the Tamarama neighbourhood and asking for more CCTV to build a picture of
what happened on Sunday.

9News reports he had just been dropped off by taxi after a night out.

'A real loss to so many people'


Family of the New Zealand-born lawyer have made their way to Sydney.

Yesterday afternoon, people believed to be East's colleagues arrived dressed
in black and laid flowers outside his home. A spokesperson for East's
employer, Arnold Block Leibler, said staff were informed about the tragedy on
Monday morning.

"The partners expressed heartfelt condolences to Mitch's parents, his partner
and many close friends, both within and outside of Arnold Bloch Leibler," the
email read.

East was described as a "highly talented lawyer and popular and valued member
of the firm, whose loss will be deeply felt".

University of Otago law professor Andrew Geddis - who worked with East during
his studies and supervised his final dissertation - said he represented the
best of the school.

"He was a remarkably good student, he was very smart, very easy to work with,
and was a promising young lawyer," said Geddis.

"To have [his career] cut short in this way is just such a shock to everyone."

Geddis said the university was in a state of grief, adding: "It's a real loss
to so many people.

"He was really smart but he wasn't arrogant. He was just a really pleasant
young man."

East was born in New Zealand, studied at Harvard University, and had recently
moved to Sydney.

He made his mark working on the Royal Commission of Inquiry into the
Christchurch terrorist attack in 2020.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed to 1News it is aware of
the death.

"We extend our sympathies to their family at this difficult time."

Anyone with information about the incident was urged to contact Crime
Stoppers.

--- Mystic BBS v1.12 A44 2020/02/04 (Windows/64)
 * Origin: S.W.A.T.S BBS Telnet swatsbbs.ddns.net:2323 (63:10/102)

.