A van driver today admitted killing a university student after crashing into her as she sat on a bench outside King’s College London.
Aalia Mahomed, who was 20, died after being hit by a van last March on the Strand in central London. She was in her second year of a BSc in physics and philosophy at KCL.
The van driver knocked down an iron gate, mounted a flower bed and briefly went airborne before hitting the bench where Ms Mahomed was sitting.
Christopher Jackson, 27, of Southampton, faces jail after he appeared at the Old Bailey today. He pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing injury by dangerous driving.
Two other people, Irem Yoldas and Yamin Belmessous, were injured in the crash.
Jackson admitted to the charges with a sombre expression and his head bowed. He looked towards the floor for the majority of the hearing.
On the morning of the crash, Jackson was instructed to collect two electric vehicles from Bush House in Aldwych for his work, according to the Metropolitan Police.
After collecting the vehicles in his van and leaving Bush House’s courtyard, Jackson drove at speed towards a set of iron gates that led to the pedestrian zone of the Strand.
Christopher Jackson, 27, pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing injury by dangerous driving
Aalia Mahomed, 20, was run down and killed by an out-of-control van on The Strand
Aalia Mahomed, who was studying for a BSc in physics and philosophy at KCL, was pronounced dead after the crash on the Strand
The defendant’s van smashed into the gates, causing it to fall and hit a 28-year-old woman and a 24-year-old man who suffered life-changing injuries.
He then drove onto a flower bed and went airborne before crashing into the bench on which Ms Mahomed was sitting.
Jackson’s van continued forward before stopping close to the wall of St Mary le Strand church.
Prosecutor Fiona Robertson said Ms Mahomed’s family and the two surviving victims were ‘anxious’ for Jackson to be sentenced before the anniversary of the incident on March 18.
Judge Philip Katz KC said: ‘It is inevitably going to be a substantial custodial sentence.’
Jessica Clarke, defending Jackson, told the court that the van driver has three young children with his fiancé and has been trying to ‘earn as much money’ as he can for his family before the sentencing.
She added: ‘Unlike many cases of death by dangerous driving which involve excessive speed, alcohol and drugs, this involves none of that. It was a tragic accident.’
People lay flowers at the scene of the crash
A group of women read the tributes left with the flowers outside the campus
Jackson, who was remanded in custody, will be sentenced on March 6, just 12 days before the anniversary of the crash.
Detective Chief Superintendent Donna Smith, of the Met’s Serious Collison Investigation Unit, said: ‘Our thoughts remain with Aalia’s friends and family at this time. We can only imagine the pain they are suffering and we know nothing can undo what’s happened.
‘We hope today’s guilty plea brings them a small measure of comfort.’
Police took statements from more than 88 public witnesses and 84 police witnesses.
Ms Smith added: ‘I want to thank our officers for their dedication and professionalism in helping to achieve justice.’
‘We would also like to thank the members of the public who came to Aalia’s aid and to all of those who assisted us with our investigation.’
Last March, hundreds of people gathered at a candlelit vigil for Ms Mahomed by King’s College. Many of those who attended wore her favourite colour, green.
Her brother, Zain, said then: ‘I would give anything for one more day with her.
‘She will never get to be the cool aunt or the cat lady she joked about being. She was a hero, my hero.’
Many made tributes and left flowers and messages of remembrance along the Strand at the vigil.
Shivanjaly Varathan, who went to school with Ms Mahomed, described her as being ‘so full of life, it was infectious’ at the vigil. Another school friend, Aleena George, said: ‘She had the best smile. When I think of her, she has that smile.’
Janelle De Sagun paid tribute to her sixth form friend then: ‘Thank you for letting me be your friend. It wasn’t hard to get to know you at all.
‘I admired you then, I admire you now.’
She later added: ‘I really looked up to her. I was like a puppy that followed her.
‘She had this kindness and warmth that was contagious.’
Another friend of Ms Mahomed, Joseph Knight, said at the vigil: ‘Words are simply not sufficient to describe what Aalia meant to us.’
A cherry blossom tree and plaque were unveiled by King’s College in the summer after awarding her a posthumous degree in her memory.
In a statement at the time of her death Ms Mahomed’s family said: ‘Aalia was a bright, kind and beautiful soul, who brought joy and laughter to everyone.
‘She was a ray of sunshine in our lives and will be deeply missed by all her family and friends. Her light will always live on in our memories and her smile will be our strength as we get through this difficult time.’