Crash driver ‘couldn’t think after fasting’

A CAR salesman who drove off after knocking down two children told police he couldn’t think properly because he had been fasting.

A jury heard Mohammed Khalil Anwar made the comment as he was arrested at his home over the injuries to Sabah Saleem, 10, and her brother Rayhan, two. Sabah was left permanently disabled after suffering serious head injuries in the collision in Brudenell Road, Hyde Park, on August 18 last year.

Anwar, 37, is on trial at Leeds Crown Court where he denies dangerous driving.

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The prosecution claims Anwar was driving about 15mph above the 20mph speed limit at the time.

The court heard yesterday Anwar was arrested at his home in Brudenell Mount two days later.

He told officers: “I didn’t know what to do. They came from the side of the road. I wasn’t driving too fast. I’m a good person. It was the last day of fasting. There was no food or drink. You can’t think properly. Two kids ran out into the middle of the road. What can I say?”

Asked by his barrister, Robin Frieze, why he left, he replied: “Because I thought I would get the blame pinned on me and I feared retaliation from the community.”

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Mr Frieze asked: “Do you think your driving was any contribution to the accident in any way?” Anwar replied: “No not at all.”

Asked what caused it, Anwar said: “The kids came out into the road.”

The barrister continued: “Do you think if you had been driving at a slower speed you would have been able to stop in time?”

Anwar said: “No. Not with the way the children ran out.”

Prosecutor Sophie Drake, asked: “Do you think in any way you were wrong in your driving?” Anwar replied: “No”

When asked: “Are you not even prepared to accept that your driving was careless?” He replied: “Maybe”

The case continues.