A driver suspected in the Hollywood hit-and-run death of a pedestrian, who spent more than a decade behind bars in Australia before being exonerated of murder, was arrested Tuesday after turning himself in at a police station.
Kristopher Ryan Smith, 19, of Norwalk was arrested just after noon on suspicion of felony hit-and-run involving injury or death after surrendering, with legal representation present, at the Los Angeles Police Department's Hollywood Station.
His bail was set at $50,000, according to the LAPD.
Officers responded at 1:30 a.m. last Thursday to the 7100 block of Sunset Boulevard and found Andrew Mallard, 56, in the road. He was hit as he was crossing the road at Formosa Avenue and died at the scene, the coroner's office reported.
"The (driver) stopped, hesitated, tried to see if he wanted to stop or not and just took off," witness Victor Rodriguez said.
A good Samaritan was performing CPR on the victim when officers arrived.
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According to Australian news reports, Mallard was convicted of the 1994 murder of jeweler store owner Pamela Lawrence in Perth and was sentenced to 20 years in prison. A journalist, a politician, his family and lawyers who took on his case pro bono mounted an effort to prove his innocence, and Australia's highest court tossed out his conviction in 2005, according to Australian news reports.
Two police officials involved in the case subsequently stepped down, and Mallard subsequently received more than $3.25 million in compensation from the Australian government.
