"He was driving significantly over the speed limit"
Driver Mohammed Shameel, aged 34, of Moseley, Birmingham, was jailed for 18 months at Birmingham Crown Court for a hit-and-run incident.
He was sentenced on June 17, 2019, after the incident resulted in the death of a mother of three.
Shameel ran over Noreen Akhtar on Stratford Road, Sparkhill, during festivities on June 16, 2018.
Mrs Akhtar was walking to her parked car – which had her young children inside – when she was struck.
She was thrown “forcibly some distance”, however, Shameel fled the scene.
Mrs Akhtar suffered a serious brain injury and died less than a day later.
Lynette McClement, prosecuting, said: “This was no momentary inattention. He was driving significantly over the speed limit in a built up area.
“It was Eid with more than usual activities taking place. He drove far too close to the near side and far too fast.
“It was inevitable that people would be moving between their cars.
“He made no attempt to slow. He could not have missed the fact that he had struck a pedestrian. We have heard the noise from the footage.”
It was revealed he was doing 36mph in a 20mph zone. Police used CCTV footage to trace Shameel’s car and he was arrested on June 23, 2018.
The driver lied in a bid to cover his tracks but he later admitted causing death by careless driving.
Judge Melbourne Inman QC stated that Stratford Road was probably the busiest road in the city.
He told Shameel: “You struck her throwing her forcibly some distance.
“The effect on Noreen Akhtar’s children and her family has been profound. I have read moving statements from her daughter and young son.”
Judge Inman said the driver initially hit the wing mirror on Mrs Akhtar’s car before hitting her and added: “You hoped you would not be found.
“You drove away leaving the victim dying in the road.
“Tragically Mrs Akhtar’s children were in the car when this terrible incident took place.”
“I am not sure how much they would have been aware, it happened so quickly.”
Geraldine Toal, defending, said: “It was a very busy stretch of road and Mrs Akhtar came from behind a car.
“If he had been driving within the speed limit it may have provided him with sufficient time to stop.
“The incident was all over in two to three seconds. He panicked. It was as simple as that. He did not realise until days later that a fatality had occurred.”
Mohammed Shameel was jailed for 18 months. He was also banned from driving for two-and-a-half years.
Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes said: “It is inconceivable Shameel would not have known about the collision as there was extensive damage to his car including the windscreen.
“Despite this, he drove away from the scene without a second thought for Mrs Akhtar who tragically died as a result of her injuries.
“Shameel tried to lie to cover his tracks but we were able to quickly expose his lies.
“We can only hope the fact he must serve a prison sentence will provide a small sense of comfort to his victim’s family.”
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