A Range Rover driver who knocked down and killed a PwC marketing executive jogger while speeding fled to Pakistan to avoid jail time.
Rashid Ali, 30, was travelling at 40mph in a 20mph zone when he hit Jack Ryan, 29, while he was out for a run near Battersea Bridge in Chelsea on January 13 2021.
Ali has denied causing death by dangerous driving but vanished to Pakistan when he was bailed after his arrest and has not returned.
Mr Ryan’s family hugged and wept as the unanimous verdict convicting Ali of death by dangerous driving was returned at the Old Bailey.
Judge Judy Khan told the jury: ‘Mr Ali was entitled to leave the country. It was intended he would back in time for this trial.’
Jack Ryan’s (pictured) family hugged and wept as the unanimous verdict convicting Ali of death by dangerous driving was returned at the Old Bailey
Rashid Ali (pictured), 30, was travelling at 40mph in a 20mph zone when he hit Jack Ryan, 29, while he was out for a run near Battersea Bridge in Chelsea on January 13 2021
Ali had ‘problems with this Visa’ to get back from Pakistan and then earlier in the week it because obvious he was not going to return.
Philip Stott, prosecuting, recalled to jurors the events of that day.
He said: ‘On 13 January 2021 this defendant drove his car dangerously.
‘He drove across a junction in Chelsea, close to the River Thames, at a point where the traffic lights were on amber, indicating that he should stop, and he did so while going significantly above the speed limit- travelling at 40 miles an hour at a point where the speed limit was 20mph leading up to the junction and 30mph at the junction.
‘As Mr Ali drove across that junction in that plainly dangerous way – too fast and against the lights, he collided with a pedestrian who was crossing the road, throwing Mr Ryan high up into the air and causing him catastrophic injuries.
‘Despite the best efforts of passers-by and the emergency services, very sadly Mr Ryan could not be revived, and he died at the scene.’
Ali was driving south towards the bridge at around 6.05pm, the court heard.
CCTV showed Mr Ryan waiting to cross the junction wearing dark sports clothing and trainers.
Mr Stott said: ‘When Mr Ali’s car was about 50 metres north of the lights, they changed from green to amber.’
‘Even though he was travelling at 39mph he did have enough time to stop for the light, according to the forensic collision investigator.
‘As Mr Ali’s vehicle went south across the junction, Mr Ryan was crossing west across the southern side of the junction.
‘Mr Ali’s Range Rover collided with Ryan, throwing him up in the air and south along the bridge.
‘It came to a stop just south of the junction on the bridge itself.’
There is no CCTV of the moment of impact, the court heard.
‘A camera is angled in such a way to just miss the impact itself, but does capture the very immediate aftermath.
CCTV from the incident showed Mr Ryan waiting to cross the junction wearing dark sports clothing and trainers before Ali struck him
Ali knocked down and killed Mr Ryan while he was out for a jog in Chelsea, west London, near Battersea bridge (pictured)
‘You see Mr Ryan’s body coming through the air above the Range Rover and landing on the bridge just in front of the vehicle as it itself stopped.
‘It is, I should warn you, shocking to watch.
‘You can see passers-by running to Mr Ryan on the ground and Mr Ali himself getting out of the driver’s side front door of the Range Rover.’
An intensive care nurse and two trainee doctors passing by started resuscitation efforts.
Paramedics arrived at 6.20pm but Mr Ryan was pronounced dead at 6.36pm.
One eyewitness saw the car hit Mr Ryan while two others heard the impact, the court heard.
Ali stopped at the scene and accepts he was the driver of the car.
Speaking to police at the roadside, Ali denied being distracted and said Mr Ryan had run across the road leaving him no time to apply the brakes.
Ali, of Slough, Berks, was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.
Judge Khan will pass sentence on Monday September 13.