Latest news with #MartinAsoloOgugua
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.'
BBC News
10-06-2025
- BBC News
Drug-driving bus driver jailed for killing nine-year-old cyclist
A bus driver who killed a nine-year-old girl riding her bike on the pavement having fallen asleep at the wheel with drugs in his system has been jailed for four Bicakci died in hospital in August last year, two days after the collision in Bexleyheath, south-east London, which left her with "catastrophic injuries".Martin Asolo-Ogugua, 23, was sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court on Monday, having pleaded guilty in April to causing Ada's death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through of Southwark, south-east London, failed a drug test at the scene, having taken cannabis the night before. CCTV showed Asolo-Ogugua driving the bus with Ada on a footpath before he defendant fell bus drifted across the carriageway and into the path of the girl and her father, Bora Bicakci, said his world was "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."Senior Crown Prosecutor Miranda Jollie called Asolo-Ogugua "reckless and utterly selfish".Ada, a Turkish-British national, lived in Bexleyheath with her family and was a keen gymnast and attended a local primary school where she was described as a "popular and happy pupil".Her organs were donated and she went on to help six other people after her death, her family said was also disqualified from driving for seven years.
