Car salesman guilty of causing Leeds crash that killed mum and daughter walking to school
Jury convicted 37-year-old after week-long trial
A motorist has been found guilty of contributing to the deaths of a mum and daughter, despite not being directly involved in the crash.
Car salesman Jasskamal Riyat was found to be racing against Hardeep Bhachu, who lost control and ploughed into the pair as they walked along Scott Hall Road on their way to school in January 2023.
Bhachu, 29, accepted causing their deaths and remains on remand awaiting sentence.
Riyat, 37, denied responsibility, despite dashcam footage clearly showing he and Bhachu, who did not know each other, competing against each other at high speeds.
The jury at Leeds Crown Court returned a unanimous verdict on Riyat following a five-day trial.
Riyat was bailed to appear on October 26.
He was told it is “inevitable” that he faced a lengthy prison sentence.
Justyna Hulboj, 27, and four-year-old Lena Czepczor were struck by Bhachu’s powerful Audi TT RS just after 8.30am on January 16, 2023.
Bhachu had been travelling at almost 90mph on the 40mph road when he hit a kerb and lost control, mounted the pavement close to the Jaguar dealership and struck both, killing them.
During the trial it was heard that minutes earlier, Bhachu and Riyat, who was driving a powerful BMW M135i, had a conversation through their windows as they waited side-by-side at traffic lights.
Recorded on Riyat’s phone and through Bhachu’s own dashcam, they were heard congratulating each other on the power of their cars, with Riyat “egging him on”.
They began to race, with Riyat accelerating away first, followed by Bhachu who then put his foot down.
Witnesses gave evidence, telling the jury that they were “obviously racing”.
Eventually, Bhachu accelerated away and Riyat was heard laughing on his own phone footage, and saying: “Watch this guy let it off. He is gone.”
Seconds later, Bhachu lost control.
Riyat, of Buckstone Avenue, Moortown, continued to film the crashed car as he passed by and left the scene, continuing on his way to work.
He failed to contact the emergency services and was later arrested.
Bhachu, of Grant Row, Adel, later admitted guilt and asked to be remanded into custody to “take responsibility” and “begin serving the inevitable sentence”.
The pair may now be sentenced together.