Latest news with #AdaBicakci
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Daily Mail
Double-decker bus driver who killed girl, nine, after ploughing into her high on drugs has sentence increased to six years and eight months
A double-decker bus driver who killed a nine-year-old girl when he crashed into her while high on drugs has had his jail term increased. Martin Asolo-Ogugua, 24, was sentenced in April to four years after he ploughed into Ada Bicakci as she travelled to a gymnastics class with her father and brother in Bexleyheath, south London. He was found to be three times the legal level of cannabis having been up all night at a social event. Asolo-Ogugua and had been seen yawning and driving the bus erratically minutes before the crash in which he appeared to have fallen asleep for '15 seconds'. Ada died two days later in hospital, with Asolo-Ogugua jailed after admitting causing her death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs. The Solicitor General referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal, arguing at a hearing on Wednesday that it was 'unduly lenient' and should be increased. Three senior judges ruled the sentence should be raised to six years and eight months, and that Asolo-Ogugua should be disqualified from driving for five years upon his release. Lord Justice Dingemans, sitting with Mr Justice Hilliard and Sir Robin Spencer, said that Asolo-Ogugua had 'acknowledged that he had destroyed his victim's family, and his own', but had 'disregarded the risk of danger to others for the period that he was driving'. He said: 'He must have appreciated that he was in no fit state to drive, but continued to drive.' Peter Ratliff, appearing for the Solicitor General, told the court that Asolo-Ogugua worked as a bus driver for Arriva and arrived for work on the morning of August 3, having only returned home from a social event at around 6.30am. He left a depot in Dartford at around 8.45am in a double-decker bus, with CCTV from the cab showing Asolo-Ogugua 'yawning repeatedly, appearing drowsy, his eyes appeared to close on occasion, and other road users noted his vehicle was being driven erratically' over around 13 minutes, Mr Ratliff said. Asolo-Ogugua then appeared to fall asleep for 'up to 15 seconds', with the bus drifting across the road and colliding with Ada in Watling Street, Bexleyheath. After being arrested at the scene, he admitted the two offences in April this year and was jailed at Woolwich Crown Court. Mr Ratliff continued that Asolo-Ogugua's sentence should be increased as there was 'a lack of attention to driving for a substantial period of time' and driving 'when deprived of adequate sleep'. He said: 'He must have appreciated from the outset, if he had not already, that he was in no fit state to drive and what he was doing was therefore inherently dangerous.' The barrister acknowledged that Asolo-Ogugua 'made efforts to seek assistance for the victim' at the time of the collision and had subsequently 'demonstrated clear remorse'. Asolo-Ogugua watched proceedings via a video link from HMP Isis in south London, with his mother in attendance at court. Gregory Fishwick, representing him, said the case was a 'tragedy', and that while the sentence 'might be classified as lenient', it was 'not unduly so'. He said: 'He will never forget this. It was a tragedy, one that he will feel forever.' Following the hearing, Solicitor General Lucy Rigby said: 'Martin Asolo-Oguagua's selfishness needlessly took the life of a young girl, causing irreparable damage to a family. 'I welcome the court's decision to increase his sentence and would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Ada's family.'
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Bus driver who killed schoolgirl after taking drugs has sentence increased
A bus driver who was jailed for killing a nine-year-old girl who was cycling along the pavement has had his sentence increased at the Court of Appeal. Martin Asolo-Ogugua, 24, fall asleep at the wheel with drugs in his system before fatally colliding with Ada Bicakci as she travelled to a gymnastics class with her father and brother on August 3 last year in Bexleyheath, south London. He was found to have almost three times the legal level of cannabis in his system. Ada died two days later in hospital, with Asolo-Ogugua jailed for four years in June this year after admitting causing her death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs. The Solicitor General referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal, arguing at a hearing on Wednesday that it was 'unduly lenient' and should be increased. Three senior judges ruled the sentence should be raised to six years and eight months, and that Asolo-Ogugua should be disqualified from driving for five years upon his release. Lord Justice Dingemans, sitting with Mr Justice Hilliard and Sir Robin Spencer, said that Asolo-Ogugua had 'acknowledged that he had destroyed his victim's family, and his own', but had 'disregarded the risk of danger to others for the period that he was driving'. He said: 'He must have appreciated that he was in no fit state to drive, but continued to drive.' Peter Ratliff, appearing for the Solicitor General, told the court that Asolo-Ogugua worked as a bus driver for Arriva and arrived for work on the morning of August 3, having only returned home from a social event at around 6.30am. He left a depot in Dartford at around 8.45am in a double-decker bus, with CCTV from the cab showing Asolo-Ogugua 'yawning repeatedly, appearing drowsy, his eyes appeared to close on occasion, and other road users noted his vehicle was being driven erratically' over around 13 minutes, Mr Ratliff said. Asolo-Ogugua then appeared to fall asleep for 'up to 15 seconds', with the bus drifting across the road and colliding with Ada in Watling Street, Bexleyheath. After being arrested at the scene, he admitted the two offences in April this year and was jailed at Woolwich Crown Court. Mr Ratliff continued that Asolo-Ogugua's sentence should be increased as there was 'a lack of attention to driving for a substantial period of time' and driving 'when deprived of adequate sleep'. He said: 'He must have appreciated from the outset, if he had not already, that he was in no fit state to drive and what he was doing was therefore inherently dangerous.' The barrister acknowledged that Asolo-Ogugua 'made efforts to seek assistance for the victim' at the time of the collision and had subsequently 'demonstrated clear remorse'. Asolo-Ogugua watched proceedings via a video link from HMP Isis in south London, with his mother in attendance at court. Gregory Fishwick, representing him, said the case was a 'tragedy', and that while the sentence 'might be classified as lenient', it was 'not unduly so'. He said: 'He will never forget this. It was a tragedy, one that he will feel forever.' Following the hearing, Solicitor General Lucy Rigby said: 'Martin Asolo-Oguagua's selfishness needlessly took the life of a young girl, causing irreparable damage to a family. 'I welcome the court's decision to increase his sentence and would like to extend my deepest sympathies to Ada's family.'
BBC News
4 days ago
- BBC News
Bus driver sentence increased after killing girl
A bus driver who was jailed for falling asleep at the wheel and killing a nine-year-old girl has had his sentence Asolo-Ogugua, 24, had almost three times the legal level of cannabis in his system after he crashed into Ada Bicakci who was cycling along the pavement on 3 August last year in Bexleyheath, south died two days later in hospital. Asolo-Ogugua was jailed for four years after admitting causing her death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through Solicitor General referred the sentence to the Court of Appeal, arguing at a hearing on Wednesday that it was "unduly lenient" and should be increased. 'No fit state to drive' Three senior judges ruled the sentence should be raised to six years and eight months, and that Asolo-Ogugua should be disqualified from driving for five years upon his Justice Dingemans, sitting with Mr Justice Hilliard and Sir Robin Spencer, said that Asolo-Ogugua had "acknowledged that he had destroyed his victim's family, and his own", but had "disregarded the risk of danger to others for the period that he was driving".He said: "He must have appreciated that he was in no fit state to drive, but continued to drive." Peter Ratliff, appearing for the Solicitor General, told the court that Asolo-Ogugua worked as a bus driver for Arriva and arrived for work on the morning of 3 August having only returned home from a social event at around 06:30 left a depot in Dartford at around 08:45 in a double-decker bus, with CCTV from the cab showing Asolo-Ogugua "yawning repeatedly, appearing drowsy, his eyes appeared to close on road users noted his vehicle was being driven erratically" for about 13 minutes, Mr Ratliff then appeared to fall asleep for "up to 15 seconds", with the bus drifting across the road and colliding with Ada who was with her father and brother in Watling Street, admitted the two offences in April this year and was jailed at Woolwich Crown Fishwick, representing Asolo-Ogugua, said the case was a "tragedy", and that while the sentence "might be classified as lenient", it was "not unduly so".He said: "He will never forget this. It was a tragedy, one that he will feel forever."
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Bus driver who killed schoolgirl cycling on pavement has sentence increased
A bus driver who was jailed for killing a nine-year-old girl who was cycling along the pavement after falling asleep at the wheel with drugs in his system has had his sentence increased at the Court of Appeal. Martin Asolo-Ogugua, 24, was found to have almost three times the legal level of cannabis in his system after he fatally collided with Ada Bicakci as she travelled to a gymnastics class with her father and brother on August 3 last year in Bexleyheath, south London. Ada died two days later in hospital, with Asolo-Ogugua jailed for four years in June this year after admitting causing her death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs. The Solicitor General referred his sentence to the Court of Appeal, arguing at a hearing on Wednesday that it was 'unduly lenient' and should be increased. Three senior judges ruled the sentence should be raised to six years and eight months, and that Asolo-Ogugua should be disqualified from driving for five years upon his release. Lord Justice Dingemans, sitting with Mr Justice Hilliard and Sir Robin Spencer, said that Asolo-Ogugua had 'acknowledged that he had destroyed his victim's family, and his own', but had 'disregarded the risk of danger to others for the period that he was driving'. He said: 'He must have appreciated that he was in no fit state to drive, but continued to drive.' Peter Ratliff, appearing for the Solicitor General, told the court that Asolo-Ogugua worked as a bus driver for Arriva and arrived for work on the morning of August 3, having only returned home from a social event at around 6.30am. He left a depot in Dartford at around 8.45am in a double-decker bus, with CCTV from the cab showing Asolo-Ogugua 'yawning repeatedly, appearing drowsy, his eyes appeared to close on occasion, and other road users noted his vehicle was being driven erratically' over around 13 minutes, Mr Ratliff said. Asolo-Ogugua then appeared to fall asleep for 'up to 15 seconds', with the bus drifting across the road and colliding with Ada in Watling Street, Bexleyheath. After being arrested at the scene, he admitted the two offences in April this year and was jailed at Woolwich Crown Court. Mr Ratliff continued that Asolo-Ogugua's sentence should be increased as there was 'a lack of attention to driving for a substantial period of time' and driving 'when deprived of adequate sleep'. He said: 'He must have appreciated from the outset, if he had not already, that he was in no fit state to drive and what he was doing was therefore inherently dangerous.' The barrister acknowledged that Asolo-Ogugua 'made efforts to seek assistance for the victim' at the time of the collision and had subsequently 'demonstrated clear remorse'. Asolo-Ogugua watched proceedings via a video link from HMP Isis in south London, with his mother in attendance at court. Gregory Fishwick, representing him, said the case was a 'tragedy', and that while the sentence 'might be classified as lenient', it was 'not unduly so'. He said: 'He will never forget this. It was a tragedy, one that he will feel forever.'
Daily Mail
29-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Parents of a nine-year-old girl killed by a bus driver who was on drugs relive terrible moment she died in their hands
The parents of a nine-year-old girl killed by a bus driver who was high on drugs have relived the terrible moment she died in their hands. Nevgül and Bora Bicakci said their grief is still 'immense' almost 12 months on from the tragic death of their daughter Ada Bicakci. She died after she was hit by a double-decker bus on Watling Street in Bexleyheath, southeast London, at 9am on Saturday, August 3 last year. The driver, Martin Asolo-Agogua, was jailed for four years earlier this month after admitting causing death by dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drugs. He fell asleep and failed a drug test at the scene because he had taken cannabis the night before. Asolo-Agogua, 23, had only been driving TfL buses for less than a year but his short spell behind the wheel had already racked up numerous complaints - including occasions when he damaged the bus by hitting stationary vehicles or bus stops. He was driving the bus 'erratically' from the bus garage to the start of its route, prosecutor Charlotte Hole told a prior hearing. One driver in a car behind said the bus was unnecessarily swerving onto the opposite side of the road, whilst another driver said Asolo-Agogua's driving caused him to blurt out 'what is he doing'. Footage from inside the bus showed him yawning, his eyes closing, his head nodding, and the bus swerving onto the pavement. Ada had been cycling on the pavement on her way to her 'much loved' gymnastics class, alongside her five-year-old brother, who was on a scooter, and her dad who was also on a bike. Almost a year later, the horrific moment of the crash is still seared into Bora's mind. He said: 'The sound of the tyres hitting the curb. Looking back and seeing Ada's body bouncing between the bus and the wall. 'Holding her in my lap. Her broken lungs struggling for every breath. Her eyes fading. Her brother behind me, shocked by fear. 'The bus drifting away. People stopping by to help. Sam stepping in. Hope and then sadness.' Ada, a Turkish and British national, was rushed to hospital where she died two days later. Nevgül described her daughter as a beautiful child with a kind heart - just weeks before she was killed she donated her hair to the Little Princess Trust saying 'everyone should have hair'. She said: 'I lost my angel. My Smile. Flutter of my heart. My closest friend. The most beautiful days of my life are the mother and daughter days I spent with Ada.' A court heard that Asolo-Agogua got his driving licence in January 2023 and became a bus driver a year later. He was briefly suspended following an incident in May when he stopped too abruptly, causing a child passenger to fall on the floor. However, he was given 'the benefit of the doubt' and his suspension was lifted a short time later. After being convicted for the death by dangerous driving offence, Asolo-Agogua was also disqualified from driving for seven years. Bora said: 'The images of that horrific moment remain seared into my mind. That scene replays endlessly, a constant reminder of the day my world fractured beyond repair. 'This tragedy happened on my watch, a father's ultimate failure. My world has been turned upside down, and with it, the foundations of my family have crumbled. 'My darling Ada. Our thanks are not enough to show our gratitude for you. We will honour your name with acts of magnitude. You will never be forgotten. 'We will make this story one of love and thanks that we owe everybody. Your presence, and passing, will leave a mark in this country and we will fight to make drug driving a part of its history.' Mr and Mrs Bicakci said while the driver's criminal case is behind them, they believe that the sentence is 'unduly lenient'. They say they now want to turn the tragedy into a 'meaningful' change. The family plans to launch a campaign in order to honour Ada's name but to also 'fight a safer future' for pedestrians on the road. They said: 'This senseless act, rooted in driver negligence and systemic failures, ignited our unyielding fight to ensure a safer future for all. 'Beyond honouring Ada's name, we intend to pursue meaningful change from TfL and the government as well as our community to ensure a safer future for all. 'Our voice resonates with other victims as well as other bus drivers who want to avoid similar future pain.' In a statement previously read by Bora in court, he called for a systemic change to stop further road deaths. Bora said: 'We seek not just justice for our daughter but a safer future for everyone.' He said knowing that similar incidents lie around the corner causes him as much pain as losing his daughter. 'We hope road death becomes history,' he added. Following her death, Ada's organs were donated to help six other children which was a 'testament to her giving spirit', the parents added. They said: 'We were deeply honoured to receive an Order of St John's Award recognising Ada's organ donation. 'Brake, Roadpeace and the Sarah Hope Line are also supporting us as we move forward.' Reflecting on the past year, the family have thanked the individuals who have been 'holding them together' during their 'darkest hours'. They said: 'The police, LFB, London Air Ambulance and the NHS provided compassionate care. 'Our community, all the schools Ada has attended and our family circles have been an incredible scaffold of love as well as financial support for us. 'We thank all members of the press, with special thanks to our local News Shopper journalists and their team for their unwavering attention and support, helping us feel heard. 'We now invite all media and community organisations to amplify our call. Follow Ada's Heartbeat.' The family plans to hold an event at the scene of where Ada was killed, marking the year of the fatal incident. They said: 'We want to meet everyone. We are preparing to share further facts about the larger picture and visuals from the incident itself to share on August 3, 2025. 'We're still trying to obtain permission to meet at the place where the incident happened, however, this is not certain. But we will hold an event update everyone through our social media pages once we hear back.' Following the tragedy, a GoFundMe page was launched to provide support to the police and ambulance service who had helped the nine-year-old, with more than £18,000 accumulated in donations. After the sentencing of Asolo-Agogua, Detective Sergeant Sam Miles, who led the investigation, said: 'He will have to spend the rest of his life regretting the night he chose to stay awake before getting behind the wheel of a bus with cannabis in his system. 'It's a night that has cost him his freedom and snatched away the life of an innocent little girl. 'Ada had her whole life ahead of her.
