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Lionel ‘Doeboy’ Allan, 39, died after he was struck while walking along The Concourse in Henderson, Auckland on the night of September 30
A New Zealand child actor who turned to a life of crime in Australia before getting his life back on track has been killed in an alleged hit-and-run.
Lionel ‘Doeboy’ Allan, 39, died after he was struck while walking along The Concourse in Henderson, Auckland, on the night of September 30.
His boss Wiremu Gray, 42, was behind the wheel and has since been charged with failing to stop and ascertain whether any person has been injured and render assistance, and careless driving causing death.
Gray faced court on Monday and pleaded guilty to being the driver of a car involved in the accident that failed to stop, but not guilty to the careless driving charge.
Both Allan and Gray had been socialising with colleagues at the scaffolding business they worked at on the night of the crash.
Allan left, started walking down the road, and was still in his high-vis vest.
Gray then left about 15 minutes later before his truck collided with Allan.
Allan is best known for his role as Matt Te Ahi in the teen drama Being Eve, with the Kiwi starring on the show from 2001 to 2002
Allan is pictured with his wife Laura and two children, died after an alleged hit-and-run on The Concourse earlier this year
‘The impact knocked the victim back on to the footpath. The victim sustained traumatic injuries to his upper body and head as result of being struck at speed and died at the scene,’ a summary of police facts said, the NZ Herald reported.
The police allege that: ‘The defendant did not stop to give assistance to the victim and drove to his home on the North Shore.’
Gray, who owns the scaffolding business, presented himself to the police the following day.
Allan is best known for his role as Matt Te Ahi in the teen drama Being Eve, with the Kiwi starring on the show from 2001 to 2002.
He moved to Australia in 2005 but fell into a downward spiral of crime, spending stints in jail for burglary, break and enter offences and assault.
Allan was arrested in 2014 after punching three men in Kings Cross, Sydney, after one man made an anti-New Zealand slur.
Allan moved to Australia in 2005 but fell into a downward spiral of crime, spending stints in jail for burglary, break and enter offences and assault
Of the three men, one was left with brain damage and Allan was jailed for two years.
Following his release Allan was set to be deported back to New Zealand but the decision was overturned.
But following an A Current Affair program in 2017 that questioned the decision not to deport Allan, he was detained again.
Then-home affairs minister Peter Dutton revoked Allan’s visa and he was booted back to New Zealand, with his wife and child later following him across the ditch.
The Channel Nine program infuriated his loved ones, with his employer at the time, Julia Sampo, sharing a heartfelt message of support to social media.
‘At work, he displayed leadership qualities and was making his way to becoming a team leader, running his own job site and focusing on progressing his career,’ Ms Sampo wrote.
Allan (pictured far left) is seen in his acting days while on the show Being Eve
‘Lionel was present in the life of his young baby, providing for his wife and making something of himself so that he could use his story to lead others in the right direction.
‘As these events unfolded, I couldn’t help but feel that this program fuelled a witch-hunt based on assumption, disguised by the notion of patriotism, pulling on the heartstrings of fellow Australians.’
Allan faced court earlier this year over theft charges and was ordered to complete community service.
‘I suffer addiction badly. I’m an addict and a petty thief,’ he told the NZ Herald at the time.
‘I just want to be an old man with kids and get on with my life.’
More than dozen family and friends showed up to court on Monday in support of Allan, who was known as ‘Doeboy’.
Loved ones said he had worked hard to turn his life around.
‘He had been living life for his family,’ one said.
Gray was remanded on bail and will next face court in February.
Lionel had been living in Australia but his visa was overturned in 2017 and he was booted back to New Zealand
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