Drivers racing before mum and child killed - court

A driver accused of causing the deaths of a woman and her daughter was seen racing against another vehicle before the crash, a court has heard.

Justyna Hulboj, 27, and four-year-old Lena Czepczor were hit by an Audi TT on the pavement on Scott Hall Road while walking to nursery on 16 January 2023.

Jasskamal Riyat, 37, of Buckstone Avenue in Leeds, was driving a BMW 1 Series closely behind the Audi. He is on trial at Leeds Crown Court for two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.

The prosecution said Riyat and Hardeep Bachu, the driver of the Audi, had been engaged in "competitive and dangerous driving", and were jointly responsible for the deaths.

Shortly before the collision, the Audi was being driven at speeds of more than 80mph (128km/h) with the BMW right behind it, the jury was told.

Both vehicles had been weaving between cars and braking heavily before the Audi mounted the pavement and hit the two pedestrians.

Ms Hulboj and Lena died at the scene, the court heard.

The jury was told Riyat had stopped his vehicle at the scene and took photos of the wreckage, which he sent to a colleague.

Carmel Pearson, prosecuting, said he did not report the crash to the police.

She described the incident as an "unthinkable tragedy" and said although Riyat's vehicle did not hit the mother and daughter, he shared responsibility for what had happened.

He had complemented, encouraged and filmed Bachu, she added.

Riyat later told police he had filmed the Audi because of the manner of driving and denied that his own driving had been dangerous.

One eyewitness described both vehicles being driven in a "careless" manner.

Another said they heard the pop of an engine as the vehicles set off from a set of traffic lights.

"They were weaving in and out of the traffic and braking hard for the speed cameras," one witness told the jury.

"At that time of the morning, in rush hour traffic, it seemed out of the ordinary."

The jury heard Bachu had previously pleaded guilty to two counts causing death by dangerous driving.

The trial continues.

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