Bora Mireye came to Australia to seek a better life for herself and her children.
But this second chance imploded when her teenage son was killed in a horrific high-speed crash.
Kevin Lomena-Olenga was a rear passenger in a stolen Haval Wagon being driven by a drunk and unlicensed 16-year-old in the early hours of May 18, 2025.
As they travelled towards a major Tarneit intersection in Melbourne's west, driving 93km/h in an 80km zone, the driver ran a red light and crashed into an oncoming Toyota Camry.
Their car spun 360 degrees before smashing into a traffic light pole in the centre median, causing the driver to eject from the car.
Kevin, 16, was found unconscious face down with half of his body hanging out the back seat.
He was rushed to hospital but died a week later from a traumatic head injury.
The teen driver, who suffered pelvic injuries from the crash, on Friday pleaded guilty in the County Court to culpable driving causing death and theft.
He also admitted unlicensed driving and possessing a controlled weapon after police found a machete under the driver's seat.
Kevin's mother told of the profound impact his death has had on the family.
"I think of him travelling and him returning to me ... I see him in my eyes and memories ... I cry all night," Ms Mireye said in a statement read by prosecutor Nanette Rogers SC in court.
"Have I offended God?" the mother asked.
The driver, now 17, had been out on probation nine days before the crash and also admitted a violent assault that occurred three months earlier which left a man with lifelong disability.
The boy was with five other co-accused when they came across Jamy Alex, Valentino Arop and Mujo Kir inside a carpark of a Flemington housing tower in the early hours of February 6.
Both groups had a short argument before dispersing.
CCTV footage showed the teen running up behind Mr Arop and king-hitting him in the back of the head, while his two co-offenders assaulted Mr Alex.
Both men were assaulted again, with Ms Kir suffering injuries as she tried to shield Mr Arop.
The offenders fled when police and paramedics arrived, leaving both men unresponsive.
Mr Arop was rushed to hospital and placed in an induced coma for four days, suffering from a rib fracture, traumatic brain injury and broken nose.
Ms Rogers said the assault left Mr Arop unable to return to work due to his permanent disability and reliant on family and support workers for everyday tasks.
Defence barrister Naomi Smith said the boy accepted the tragic consequences from both matters and acknowledged the devastation for those who knew the victims.
She said the boy had a dysfunctional life with a mother struggling with substance abuse and homelessness, and an absent father, urging the judge to sentence him according to youth justice provisions.
But County Court chief judge Amanda Chambers described the assault as "extreme and largely unprovoked violence".
"I’m not sure a youth justice centre order can be made sensibly in this case," she said.
The teen will be sentence at a later date.
