Speeding Driver causes Death of his ‘Best Friend’ & Wife

Eidnun Liaquat, aged 28, of Birmingham, has escaped a jail sentence after he was convicted of killing his best friend and his friend’s wife.

He had been speeding and ignored the signs that the road was a dead-end.

Newlywed couple Kyle Khan and Meesha Afzal had been passengers in the car when it crashed into a wall near the M42.

The incident occurred at 1:50 am on December 13, 2020, after the couple and Liaquat had spent the evening together.

A police officer had seen Liaquat driving the Mercedes above the 30mph speed limit about 20 minutes before the collision.

Prosecutor Paul Spratt described the victims as being “in the prime of their young lives” with unfulfilled hopes and aspirations.

Mr Spratt said: “Alcohol had been consumed and that might be the reason why Liaquat was driving.

“Quite how they ended up in that side road is not clear. The road was plainly a dead end.

“Had Liaquat observed signs that were available to him from the roundabout he would have known that.

“The road goes from a dual carriageway to a single-track road. There is a solid concrete wall at the end.”

He said the defendant had taken some cannabis but was below the legal limit.

A witness estimated that Liaquat was driving between 30mph and 40mph before the collision, with no signs of braking as he approached the end of the road.

The couple suffered “catastrophic” injuries while Liaquat sustained chest injuries and a broken left hip.

Judge Simon Drew KC called it a tragic case where two young people lost their lives and Liaquat’s failure to recognise the road as a dead-end was a serious mistake.

The judge also stated that their lives were in his hands.

Judge Drew said: “Any careful and considerate driver would have seen these.

“The failure to realise that you were driving down a dead-end was a serious failure on your part and you were driving at speed.”

Speaking about having passengers in the car, he added:

“That increased the care that you needed to take, their lives were in your hands, literally.”

However, the judge said:

“You are a man of positive good character and Kyle Khan was your best friend and Meesha was his wife.”

“I accept that the impact upon you has been grave and your expressions of remorse are genuine and sincere.”

Liaquat pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by careless driving.

Graham Henson, defending, said: “Kyle Khan was his best friend. They were almost like brothers.

“The effect on the families of Kyle Khan and Meesha Afzal has been devastating and the effect on Liaquat has also been devastating.”

Liaquat was sentenced to 18 months, suspended for two years.

He was also banned from driving for three years and ordered to pay £1,500 costs.