Audi and BMW 'obviously racing' moments before Leeds mum and daughter were killed, witnesses tell jury
“Growl” of high-performance engines heard
Witnesses have described two powerful cars as “racing” moments before one lost control and ploughed into a mum and daughter, killing them both.
A white Audi TT lost control on Scott Hall Road at more than twice the legal speed limit and tragically struck Justyna Hulboj and four-year-old Lena Czepczor walking to school on the morning of January 16, 2023.
The driver, 29-year-old Hardeep Bhachu, has already admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and remains on remand, awaiting sentence.
But the driver of the second car, Jasskamal Riyat, who was behind the wheel of a dark-coloured BMW M135i, is standing trial at Leeds Crown Court also charged with the same offences.
The Crown argues that despite not crashing, 37-year-old Riyat contributed to the tragedy through his own driving, saying he needed to “take responsibility”.
On day two of his trial this week, two witnesses gave independent evidence suggesting both cars were travelling at excess speed and both racing.
Commuter Ravinder Sagu was on her way to work that morning and told the jury that she noticed the Audi “weaving in and out of traffic at speed”, followed by the BMW. She said she thought they knew each other.
She added: “They were racing basically, that was my understanding at the time.”
She said they both disappeared from sight but she came across the crashed Audi moments later facing the direction it had travelled from.
She said she did not know it had killed the mum and daughter until she saw the news later that day.
Meanwhile, second witness Uel Knight said he heard the “growl” of the powerful engines as he walked his dog along the pavement on Scott Hall Road that morning.
He said: “They went past me at high speed, in excess of the speed limit. They were obviously racing.”
The Crown says that the cars began to race from Potternewton Lane roundabout, heading towards Leeds.
Mrs Hulboj, 27, had been walking with her daughter Lena near to the Land Rover and Jaguar garage, at around 8.30am that morning on their way to nursery.
The Audi hit a kerb and lost control, mounted the pavement and struck both.
Moments before the crash, Riyat had begun filming the Audi.
Despite not knowing each other, the footage played to the court showed Riyat and Bhachu communicating through their windows as they waited at traffic lights, appearing to congratulate each other on the power of their cars.
Riyat could be heard laughing as the Audi accelerated away and was heard to say: “He is gone”.
Riya, of Buckstone Avenue, Moortown, continued to film the crashed car as he passed by and left the scene, continuing on his way to work.
Bhachu, of Grant Row, Adel, later admitted guilt and asked to be remanded into custody to “take responsibility” and “begin serving the inevitable sentence”.
He will be sentenced at the conclusion of Riyat’s trial.
The trial continues and is expected to be completed by the end of the week.