Van driver jailed after killing London student
Van Driver Jailed After Killing London Student
A 27-year-old man from Southampton received an eight-year prison sentence following a van crash that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old student near a London university campus. The incident, which occurred on 18 March last year, led to the fatal collision involving Aalia Mahomed, a second-year physics and philosophy degree student.
Incident Details
The Old Bailey was informed that the van, driven by Christopher Jackson, struck gates near King’s College London’s (KCL) campus in the Strand. The vehicle mounted a flower bed, briefly lifted off the ground, before colliding with Ms Mahomed, who was seated on a bench. The crash lasted approximately six seconds and ended with the van halting near the wall of St Mary-Le-Strand church.
“When you lose a child, you don’t just lose a presence of someone in your life, you lose a part of yourself. Our beautiful Aalia had her whole life ahead of her, cut so short at the age of 20 with no warning and no goodbyes… the loss on the wider family is also immense.”
Jackson, who had no prior experience with electric vehicles, was tasked with retrieving a van from Bush House in Aldwych. During the sentencing, Judge Philip Katz KC emphasized his lack of experience, noting that “any careful and competent driver will satisfy themselves that they can drive the car safely before they set off.” The judge also highlighted Jackson’s “significant level of irresponsibility” in the case.
Sentencing and Consequences
Before the verdict, Jackson had already admitted guilt for causing serious injuries to two other KCL students, Irem Yoldas and Yamin Belmessous, who suffered life-altering harm. The Metropolitan Police stated that forensic analysis confirmed no mechanical faults in the van, attributing the crash to “unintended acceleration, made worse by Jackson’s panic.” During the trial, Jackson was seen slumped forward and gave no statement to officers. However, the judge acknowledged his remorse as “immediate and genuine.”
As part of his sentencing, Jackson will serve two-thirds of his eight-year term before being released on licence. He has been banned from driving and must pass a retest to regain his license. Additionally, he was handed three-year concurrent sentences for the two serious injury charges.
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