Watch moment speeding drivers laugh moments before crash kills mother and daughter

Car salesman Jasskamal Riyat was found to be racing against Hardeep Bhachu, who lost control and ploughed into the pair as they walked along Scott Hall Road on their way to school in January 2023.

Bhachu, 29, accepted causing their deaths and remains on remand awaiting sentence.

Riyat, 37, denied responsibility, despite dashcam footage clearly showing he and Bhachu, who did not know each other, competing against each other at high speeds.

A jury at Leeds Crown Court returned a unanimous verdict on Riyat following a five-day trial.

Riyat was bailed to appear on October 26.

He was told it is “inevitable” that he faced a lengthy prison sentence.

Justyna Hulboj, 27, and four-year-old Lena Czepczor were struck by Bhachu’s powerful Audi TT RS just after 8.30am on January 16, 2023.

Bhachu had been travelling at almost 90mph on the 40mph road when he hit a kerb and lost control, mounted the pavement close to the Jaguar dealership and struck both, killing them.

During the trial it was heard that minutes earlier, Bhachu and Riyat, who was driving a powerful BMW M135i, had a conversation through their windows as they waited side-by-side at traffic lights.

Recorded on Riyat’s phone and through Bhachu’s own dashcam, they were heard congratulating each other on the power of their cars, with Riyat “egging him on”.

They began to race, with Riyat accelerating away first, followed by Bhachu who then put his foot down.

Witnesses gave evidence, telling the jury that they were “obviously racing”.

Eventually, Bhachu accelerated away and Riyat was heard laughing on his own phone footage, and saying: “Watch this guy let it off. He is gone.”

Seconds later, Bhachu lost control.

Riyat, of Buckstone Avenue, Moortown, continued to film the crashed car as he passed by and left the scene, continuing on his way to work.

He failed to contact the emergency services and was later arrested.

Bhachu, of Grant Row, Adel, later admitted guilt and asked to be remanded into custody to “take responsibility” and “begin serving the inevitable sentence”.

The pair may now be sentenced together.

Detective Inspector Paul Conroy, of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: “This was an absolutely horrifying collision that I know even shocked experienced collision investigators. An innocent mother and daughter who were simply making their way to school never made it there and tragically never made it home because of the selfish, reckless actions of these two men.

“Bhachu and Riyat didn’t know each other. They were two men showing off their fast cars on a busy dual carriageway.

“We have released a video which shows the moments leading up to this collision. It is upsetting to watch but I hope that it might make people think about their own driving and encourage conversations with friends and family. Ultimately, Bhachu thought he could drive at those speeds in his high-powered car, but he couldn’t, and his loss of control took two lives and ruined many more.

“Riyat witnessed this collision but instead of stopping to check if those involved were okay, he left the scene. He denied his involvement but was convicted thanks to the extensive footage showing his speeding vehicle in the moments leading up to the collision.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who came forward to provide dashcam and CCTV footage which helped us to demonstrate the dangerous nature of both Bhachu and Riyat’s driving that morning.”

A statement from the fiance of Justyna Hulboj and father of Lena Czepczor said: “Before 16 January 2023, my life was a fulfilment of my deepest dreams, I had everything that was most important in life. I had a good job, a wonderful fiancée, Justyna and a wonderful daughter, Lena.

“Unfortunately, on the morning of January 16, when I said goodbye to my family with the words ‘I love you’, I didn't know that it would be the last time I saw them.

“When I was informed about their deaths, my whole world collapsed in one second.

“Every day I feel a huge void after their departure, and I imagine what it would be like if they were still alive. We had so many plans and dreams and in one moment it all ended.

“I know that I will have to live with the burden of losing the two most important people in my life for the rest of my life.

“I would like to live normally again without all this, but I know that it is no longer possible, no one will bring back the lives of my fiancée and my daughter. This nightmare will last for the rest of my life.

“My dream was to have a wonderful family, and I must say that it came true for a short while, but that was taken away from me on the 16th of January.

“Unfortunately, all that remains are wonderful memories and a constant fight for the next day, which is not easy.”