Van driver jailed after killing London student
Eight-Year Sentence for Van Driver Who Killed London University Student
A 27-year-old van operator from Southampton has received an eight-year prison term following a fatal accident near a London university campus. The incident occurred on 18 March last year when the vehicle collided with gates, leading to the death of Aalia Mahomed, a 20-year-old student pursuing a degree in physics and philosophy.
Incident Near King’s College London
The Old Bailey was informed that the student was seated on a bench close to the King’s College London (KCL) campus in the Strand. Christopher Jackson, the defendant, had been assigned to retrieve the van from Bush House in Aldwych but had no prior experience operating electric vehicles.
Collision and Aftermath
According to court records, Jackson’s van struck the gates, vaulted over a flower bed, and briefly left the ground before crashing into Ms Mahomed. The vehicle eventually halted near the wall of St Mary-Le-Strand church. The crash duration was estimated at approximately six seconds.
“When you lose a child, you don’t just lose a presence of someone in your life, you lose a part of yourself,” said Samira Shafi, Aalia’s mother. “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.”
Judge Highlights Irresponsibility
During sentencing, Judge Philip Katz KC emphasized Jackson’s inexperience, stating, “You had no experience of driving vans, let alone electric vans.” The judge also noted the driver’s “significant level of irresponsibility,” citing his habit of pressing or pumping the accelerator, mistakenly believing it to be the brake.
Jackson had earlier confessed to causing serious injuries to two other KCL students, Irem Yoldas and Yamin Belmessous, both in their early 20s, who sustained life-altering harm after being struck by the gate. He was sentenced to three years for each charge, with the terms running concurrently. Upon release, he will serve two-thirds of his sentence and is banned from driving until he passes a retest.
Defense and Police Findings
Jessica Clarke, representing Jackson, argued the incident was a “tragic accident” without involvement of excessive speed, alcohol, or drugs. However, the judge contested this, asserting that a “careful and competent driver” would ensure safety before starting a journey. The Metropolitan Police stated that the van had no mechanical faults and that the crash was primarily caused by unintended acceleration, exacerbated by Jackson’s panic.
Jackson was observed slumped forward during the investigation and provided no remarks when questioned. The judge acknowledged his remorse as “immediate and genuine,” though the case remains a stark reminder of the dangers of inexperience behind the wheel.
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