A driver and his passenger have been sentenced to prison after speeding through Manchester streets at nearly 140mph while inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon, killing a man who was on his way to work. Uways Hussain, 20, and Usmon Mahmood, 23, were sentenced at Manchester Crown Court after pleading guilty to offences related to the death of Sylvester Abayomi, 50, who was struck at the junction of Green End Road and Kingsway at 4.30am on March 9.
According to The Guardian, Greater Manchester Police stated that the sentences are believed to be among the highest ever handed down for a death by dangerous driving offence involving a single fatality. Hussain received 11 years and eight months in detention after admitting causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while uninsured, and failing to provide a specimen. Mahmood was jailed for 12 years and nine months after admitting aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and aiding and abetting causing death by driving while uninsured.
The court was shown footage of the crash as well as recordings the pair had made of themselves during the drive. Hussain was behind the wheel of a VW Golf GTI. Mahmood sat in the front passenger seat and was heard on recordings shouting encouragement at points during the journey. Judge Dean KC described the footage as terrifying. 'You drove at extreme speeds, seemingly up to very nearly 140mph, on roads which were by and large subject to 30mph speed limits, far, far in excess of any safe or lawful limit,' he said.
After the collision, an Apple Watch worn by Hussain automatically dialled 999 after detecting a crash. The pair were recorded on that call discussing calling an Uber to leave the scene and reporting the car as stolen. Judge Dean described the transcript as 'chilling' and said it showed no shock or concern for the victim. Both men left the scene and ran from officers when police tracked them down before they were arrested.
Sylvester Abayomi's partner, Denise Doyle, addressed the defendants in court. 'Sylvester was simply on his way to work. An ordinary hard-working man,' she said. 'He should have returned home to me safely that day. Because of your actions he never did. You left Sylv to die alone. You did not show him even a shred of compassion or humanity.' Hussain's defence said he was a law student who worked full-time at an airport. Mahmood's defence said he had been about to begin an apprenticeship with Network Rail and was starting to understand the impact of what happened.
