Latest news with #RenjuJoseph
Sky News
3 days ago
- Sky News
Hit-and-run driver jailed for 13 years over baby's death
A driver who knocked down a pregnant student, killing her baby boy, has been jailed for 13 years. Renju Joseph, 31, was struck by a speeding car driven by 20-year-old Ashir Shahid at a zebra crossing in the village of Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. The Toyota Prius driven by Shahid was thought to be going at speeds between 58mph and 71mph in a 30mph zone, in dark and wet conditions, Preston Crown Court heard. Mrs Joseph, who was five months pregnant at the time, was taken to hospital from the scene in Station Road in the early evening of 29 September 2024. Doctors carried out an emergency C-section to try to save the life of her son, Olive. The woman was walking slightly behind two female colleagues on the crossing around 7.50pm as they made their way to a night shift at a nearby care home. A motorist driving in the opposite direction reported that the Prius appeared to accelerate about 15 metres before reaching the crossing, then swerved to avoid the two pedestrians ahead. The pregnant woman was hit and "thrown into the air for quite some distance" before she tumbled and rolled into his car, according to the witness. Prosecutors said Shahid's driving before the collision also "left a lot to be desired". Footage recovered from the mobile phones of Shahid and his 17-year-old younger brother, Sam Shahid, who was in the front passenger seat, showed the pair laughing and singing along to music while the car was being driven recklessly and at high speed. Sam Shahid was also seen sticking his feet and upper body out of the window while the driver occasionally took both hands off the wheel and made gun gestures. Minutes after the collision, the Toyota was abandoned in a side street and covered with a sheet by the defendants. Others then moved the vehicle onto the back of a flatbed truck and dumped it in Farnworth, Greater Manchester. Ashir Shahid was arrested days later and made no comment when interviewed, but when his phone was examined, it revealed that on the night of the collision, he made an online search for "charge for hit and run human". Ashir Shahid, of Walton le Dale, Preston, pleaded guilty in June to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. On Friday, he was also banned from driving for 15 years and one month, and must pass an extended retest. Sam Shahid, also of Windsor Road, was detained for three years after he pleaded guilty to assisting an offender. During sentencing, Judge Ian Unsworth KC remarked that Ashir Shahid's acceleration just before the crash was "similar to what you might witness on a Formula 1 racetrack". He said: "Your driving was nothing less than appalling. You engaged in a prolonged and persistent course of dangerous driving. "Your speed was significantly in excess of the speed limit and was highly inappropriate for the prevailing road conditions. "Olive's life lasted five hours and 38 minutes. He did not live to see dawn. His mother never saw him alive. His life was snubbed out before it really began." Mrs Joseph spent a fortnight in a coma before she learned of the death of her son, the court heard. She and her nurse husband, Nyjil Jonn, both originally from India, had planned a gender reveal party at a baby shower for family and friends on 2 October. One of her last memories before the collision was buying a dress to wear for the occasion, she said in a victim personal statement read out to the court. Mrs Joseph said: "Everything has been ruined by that one night and the callous and reckless actions of those two people in that car. My life will never by the same again."
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Daily Mail
Hit-and-run driver, 20, with 'no moral compass' is jailed for 13 years for slamming into pregnant care home worker, killing her unborn baby boy
A hit-and-run driver who mowed down a five-months-pregnant care home worker and killed her baby boy has been jailed for 13 years. Renju Joseph, 31, was struck by a car driven at high speed by Ashir Shahid, 20, as she walked on a zebra crossing in Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. The Toyota Prius was estimated to be travelling at between 58mph and 71mph at the time, in dark, wet conditions, in a 30mph zone, Preston Crown Court heard. Mrs Joseph was taken to hospital from the scene in Station Road in the early evening of September 29, and an emergency C-section was carried out in an attempt to save the life of her son, Olive. Tragically, her child was born that evening but survived for just a few hours before passing away. Sentencing, Judge Ian Unsworth KC said: 'Olive's life lasted five hours and 38 minutes. He did not live to see dawn. His mother never saw him alive. 'His life was snubbed out before it really began.' In a victim statement read out to the court, Mrs Joseph described the pain of her loss saying, 'I will never get to meet my baby, be a mummy to him or watch him grow up.' Ashir's brother Sam, 17, had been sitting in the front passenger seat when the car hit Mrs Joseph and was later found to have made up a rap about the tragedy. Sam Shahid was also seen to put his feet and upper body out of the window Mrs Joseph was walking slightly behind two female colleagues on the crossing at about 7.50pm as they headed to work a night shift at a local care home. A motorist travelling in the opposite direction said the Prius driver seemed to increase speed about 15 metres away from the crossing and then swerved from the two pedestrians in front. The pregnant woman was hit and 'thrown into the air for quite some distance' before she tumbled and rolled into his car, said the witness. Prosecutors said the driving of Ashir Shahid before the collision also 'left a lot to be desired'. Video clips recovered from his mobile phone and that of his front seat passenger, younger brother Sam Shahid, 17, showed them laughing and singing to music as the car is driven erratically and at speed. Sam Shahid was also seen to put his feet and upper body out of the window while the driver removes both hands from the wheel at times and makes gun gestures. Minutes after the collision the Toyota was abandoned in a side street and covered with a sheet by the defendants, before others moved the vehicle on to the back of flatbed truck and dumped it in Farnworth, Greater Manchester. Ashir Shahid was arrested days later and made no comment when interviewed, but when his phone was examined it revealed that on the night of the collision he made an online search for 'charge for hit and run human'. A video clip on his Snapchat account also showed him singing along to the Shaggy song It Wasn't Me and laughing. Voice note recordings were also discovered of Sam Shahid rapping: 'Ran that b**** over, baby got packed. She still not woke up, she still asleep.' Ashir Shahid, of Windsor Road, Walton le Dale, Preston, pleaded guilty in June to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. On Friday, he was also banned from driving for 15 years and one month, and must pass an extended retest. Sam Shahid, also of Windsor Road, was detained for three years after he pleaded guilty to assisting an offender. Sentencing, Judge Ian Unsworth KC said Ashir Shahid's acceleration in the moments before the crash was 'akin to what you may see on a Formula 1 race track'. He said: 'Your driving was nothing less than appalling. You engaged in a prolonged and persistent course of dangerous driving. 'Your speed was significantly in excess of the speed limit and was highly inappropriate for the prevailing road conditions.' Mrs Joseph spent a fortnight in a coma before she learned of the death of her son, the court heard. She and her nurse husband, Nyjil Jonn, had planned a gender reveal party at a baby shower for family and friends on October 2. One of her last memories before the collision was buying a dress to wear for the occasion, she said in a victim personal statement read out to the court. Mrs Joseph said: 'Everything has been ruined by that one night and the callous and reckless actions of those two people in that car. My life will never by the same again. 'I will never get to meet my baby, be a mummy to him or watch him grow up. They have taken my first child away from me and I will never get him back.' Mr Joseph said it was 'incomprehensible' to see their son placed on the lap of his unconscious wife as she fought for her life. He said he was scared for the future of the couple, both originally from India, and the possible long-term impact on his wife. Mrs Joseph suffered life-changing injuries including a bleed to the brain, a cracked spinal cord and fractures to her pelvis, ribs and leg. She has had to learnt to walk again but struggles to stand for long periods of time, the court heard. Jonathan Duffy, defending Ashir Shahid, who has no previous convictions, said: 'Of course he knew that he had struck a pedestrian but didn't know at the time how seriously injured Mrs Joseph was. 'He deeply regrets his behaviour immediately after the offence, All he can say is that he panicked and was in shock.' Shahid had expressed feelings of shame, guilt and remorse in a letter to the court, he said. Fellow defence barrister Jennifer Devans-Tamakloe, said Sam Shahid explained to her that rapping about something as serious as these events 'makes it easier for him to cope with, as odd as that sounds'. She said: 'While Sam clearly has difficulties of his own, he has ambitions. He says he wants to join the Army.' Sam Shahid had six prior convictions for 13 offences including burglary and vehicle theft, the court was told. Judge Unsworth told the defendants: 'You seemingly have no moral compass. Throughout these proceedings you have sat with your heads down as if in shame. You have no shame.' He noted how they both 'disappeared into the night like cowards' following the collision and then shortly after acted with 'breathtaking coolness' as they began a cover-up operation. He told them they had 'not shown a care in the world for anyone and anything around you' as they careered through residential streets at dangerously high speeds. Judge Unsworth said: 'Your arrogant, selfish and shameless actions put multiple people at risk including yourselves. 'Neither of you have a shred of remorse for your involvement that evening.' He told Sam Shahid: 'You sang utterly vile rap songs in which you glorified the events of that evening and speak in utterly despicable ways of Renju and her dead son Olive. It defies belief. 'You have an ingrained criminality and are someone who at the age of 17 seems to revel in and take pleasure from it.' Following sentence, the Josephs' lawyer, Cathy Leach - of JMW Solicitors, said: 'The enormity of the tragic effects of the accident and the injuries sustained, are something Renju and Nyjil will live with daily. 'Their lives will never be the same. They wish to retain their privacy but have specifically asked us, as their lawyers, to pass on their thanks be passed on to the many people who have been magnificent in their response to the tragedy. 'They specially want to mention the other road users and people who were witnesses to the terrible accident who took the trouble gave evidence to the police and the court.' Det Chief Insp Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Constabulary's major investigation team, said: 'My thoughts first and foremost today are with Renju and family. They have been through the most appalling ordeal and my heart goes out to them. 'They have shown the most incredible dignity and courage since this tragic collision and throughout these proceedings. 'In contrast Ashir Shahid and his co-defendant have shown nothing but arrogance and a lack of remorse for what they have done.'
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Hit-and-run driver who killed pregnant woman's baby jailed
A driver who struck a pregnant student and killed her newborn baby has been sentenced to 13 years in Joseph, 31, was five months pregnant when she was hit by a car driven at high speed by Ashir Shahid, 20, as she crossed a zebra crossing on Station Road in Bamber Bridge, of Windsor Road in Walton-le-Dale, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous brother Sam Shahid was also was sentenced to three years behind bars at Preston Crown Court after he pleaded guilty to assisting an offender. The Toyota Prius, driven by Shahid, was estimated to be travelling at between 58mph and 71mph (114kmh) in a 30mph zone in dark, wet conditions, the court Joseph was taken to hospital from the scene in the early evening of September 29 last year, and an emergency C-section was carried out in an attempt to save the life of her son, had been walking slightly behind two female colleagues on the crossing at about 19.50pm as they headed to work a night shift at a local care homeA motorist travelling in the opposite direction said the Prius driver seemed to increase speed about 15 metres (49ft) away from the pregnant woman was hit and "thrown into the air for quite some distance" before she tumbled and rolled into his car, the witness clips recovered from Shahid's mobile phone and that of his front seat passenger, his 17-year-old brother, showed them laughing and singing to music as the car was driven erratically and at Shahid was also seen to put his feet and upper body out of the window while the driver removes both hands from the wheel at times and makes gun gestures. Minutes afterwards, the Toyota was abandoned in a side street and covered with a sheet by the pair, before others moved the vehicle on to the back of flatbed truck and dumped it in Farnworth, Greater Shahid was arrested days later and made no comment when interviewed. When his phone was examined it revealed that on the night it happened he made an online search for "charge for hit and run human".A video clip on his Snapchat account also showed him singing along to the Shaggy song It Wasn't Me and recordings were also discovered of Sam Shahid rapping about the incident, including the lyrics: "She still not woke up, she still asleep." 'Life snubbed out' Ashir Shahid, of Windsor Road, Walton le Dale, pleaded guilty in June to causing death and serious injury by dangerous Friday, he was also banned from driving for 15 years and one month, and must pass an extended them, Judge Ian Unsworth KC said Ashir Shahid's acceleration in the moments before the crash was "akin to what you may see on a Formula 1 race track".He said: "Olive's life lasted five hours and 38 minutes. He did not live to see dawn. His mother never saw him alive."His life was snubbed out before it really began." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Killer driver who mowed down pregnant woman sentenced to 13 years in prison
A dangerous driver who killed an unborn child when he ploughed into a mother at a crossing has been jailed for 13 years. Renju Joseph was five-and-a-half months pregnant when she was mown down at high speed by Ashir Shahid in Bamber Bridge. Shahid spent several days cowardly hiding at a friend's house in Accrington after the crash before eventually being arrested in Kirkham. Mrs Joseph underwent emergency surgery to have her baby boy delivered, but he tragically later died in hospital. Ashir Shahid (Image: Lancashire Police) Mrs Joseph, 31, was seriously hurt, and although she has since been discharged from hospital, she still suffers from life-changing injuries, including mobility issues. The crash happened on Station Road close to the junction with Longbrook Avenue and Fourfields shortly before 8pm on Sunday, September 29 last year. and it was quickly established that the offending vehicle was a Toyota Prius, which was driven to Greater Manchester after the crash and dumped in Farnworth. CCTV and other enquiries led police to Shahid, 20, of Windsor Road, Walton-le-Dale, who was arrested and charged. In June he pleaded guilty to causing the death of a baby by dangerous driving. He also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury to Mrs Joseph. Shahid was today (Friday, August 15) sentenced to 13 years' detention for the offence of causing death by dangerous driving and three years for causing serious injury by dangerous driving to be served concurrently, with a minimum of two-thirds to be served before being released on licence. READ MORE: Man, 59, told teenage girl he 'loved' her and sexually assaulted her READ MORE: Man and woman to stand trial accused of drug offences He was also banned from driving for 15 years and one month, which results in a period of around seven years upon his release. A 17-year-old boy from Walton-le-Dale, pleaded guilty to assisting an offender. Before today, he could not be named due to his age, but these restrictions were lifted by Judge Ian Unsworth. Sam Shahid, also of Windsor Road, was sentenced to three years' detention. In a victim personal statement, Mrs Joseph said: 'Everything has changed for me now. Everything has been ruined by that one night and the callous and reckless actions of those two people in that car. My life will never by the same again. I will never get to meet my baby, be a mummy to him or watch him grow up. They have taken my first child away from me and I will never get him back. 'I don't know how I will ever move on from the events of that night. I will always be reminded of what happened by the fact that my child is not here anymore and he should be. I have physical scars, but the emotional scars are the worst. There is not a day I do not think about my baby boy.' Sam Shahid (Image: Lancashire Police) Detective chief inspector Andy Fallows, of Lancashire Police's force major investigation team, said: 'My thoughts first and foremost today are with Renju and family. They have been through the most appalling ordeal and my heart goes out to them. They have shown the most incredible dignity and courage since this tragic collision and throughout these proceedings. 'In contrast, Ashir Shahid and his co-defendant have shown nothing but arrogance and a lack of remorse for what they have done. Not only did they fail to stop after the collision, but they did all they could to try and escape detection. 'The manner of Shahid's driving on that tragic evening was truly appalling, with a complete disregard for pedestrians and other road users and his dangerous actions have very sadly cost the life of a little boy and left his mother with some serious and life-changing physical injuries and the unimaginable pain of losing a child. 'I hope that today's sentences will give these two defendants some time to reflect on the devastating impact of what they have done and will give others who may be tempted to drive in this way pause for thought and to think twice before they get behind the wheel. 'I would like to thank the officers and staff who worked tirelessly on this investigation to secure these convictions and sentences, as well as the Crown Prosecution Service and colleagues from Greater Manchester Police who helped locate the offending car. 'Finally, I would like to return to Renju and family and to once again extend my sympathies to them and to offer them my best wishes for the future.'
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Yahoo
Hit-and-run driver locked up for 13 years over death of baby
A driver who mowed down a five-months-pregnant student and killed her baby boy has been locked up for 13 years. Renju Joseph, 31, was struck by a car driven at high speed by Ashir Shahid, 20, as she walked on a zebra crossing in the village of Bamber Bridge, near Preston, Lancashire. The Toyota Prius was estimated to be travelling at between 58mph and 71mph at the time, in dark, wet conditions, in a 30mph zone, Preston Crown Court heard. Mrs Joseph was taken to hospital from the scene in Station Road in the early evening of September 29, and an emergency C-section was carried out in an attempt to save the life of her son, Olive. She was walking slightly behind two female colleagues on the crossing at about 7.50pm as they headed to work a night shift at a local care home. A motorist travelling in the opposite direction said the Prius driver seemed to increase speed about 15 metres away from the crossing and then swerved from the two pedestrians in front. The pregnant woman was hit and 'thrown into the air for quite some distance' before she tumbled and rolled into his car, said the witness. Prosecutors said the driving of Shahid before the collision also 'left a lot to be desired'. Video clips recovered from his mobile phone and that of his front seat passenger, younger brother Sam Shahid, 17, showed them laughing and singing to music as the car is driven erratically and at speed. Sam Shahid was also seen to put his feet and upper body out of the window while the driver removes both hands from the wheel at times and makes gun gestures. Minutes after the collision the Toyota was abandoned in a side street and covered with a sheet by the defendants, before others moved the vehicle on to the back of flatbed truck and dumped it in Farnworth, Greater Manchester. Ashir Shahid was arrested days later and made no comment when interviewed, but when his phone was examined it revealed that on the night of the collision he made an online search for 'charge for hit and run human'. A video clip on his Snapchat account also showed him singing along to the Shaggy song It Wasn't Me and laughing. Voice note recordings were also discovered of Sam Shahid rapping: 'Ran that bitch over, baby got packed. She still not woke up, she still asleep.' Ashir Shahid, of Windsor Road, Walton le Dale, Preston, pleaded guilty in June to causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving. On Friday, he was also banned from driving for 15 years and one month, and must pass an extended retest. Sam Shahid, also of Windsor Road, was detained for three years after he pleaded guilty to assisting an offender. Sentencing them, Judge Ian Unsworth KC said Ashir Shahid's acceleration in the moments before the crash was 'akin to what you may see on a Formula 1 race track'. He said: 'Your driving was nothing less than appalling. You engaged in a prolonged and persistent course of dangerous driving. 'Your speed was significantly in excess of the speed limit and was highly inappropriate for the prevailing road conditions. 'Olive's life lasted five hours and 38 minutes. He did not live to see dawn. His mother never saw him alive. 'His life was snubbed out before it really began.'
