Man Denies Responsibility for Fatal Leeds Driving Incident in Leeds 2026

Key Points

• Charges: Jasskamal Riyat, 35, is on trial at Leeds Crown Court accused of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
• Victims: Justyna Hulboj, 27, and her four-year-old daughter, Lena Czepczor, died when they were struck whilst walking to nursery.
• Incriminating Actions: The prosecution alleges Riyat was “racing” a stranger, Hardeep Bhachu, and filmed Bhachu’s car driving off at high speed moments before the collision.
• Co-Accused: Hardeep Bhachu, who was driving the Audi TT that mounted the pavement, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving.
• Defendant’s Testimony: Riyat told the court he feels “disgusted” by the fatal incident but maintains he is not legally or criminally responsible as his BMW made no physical contact with the pedestrians.

Leeds (The Leeds Times) August 25, 2026 – A man standing trial accused of causing the deaths of a mother and her young daughter in a high-speed collision in Leeds has told a jury he feels “disgusted” by the tragedy, but denies he bears any legal responsibility for their deaths.

What Happened During the Fatal Incident on Scott Hall Road?

As reported by Jonathan Brown of ITV News, 35-year-old Jasskamal Riyat, of Buckstone Avenue, Leeds, appeared at Leeds Crown Court to give evidence in his defence. Riyat faces two charges of causing death by dangerous driving following the deaths of Justyna Hulboj, 27, and her four-year-old daughter, Lena Czepczor. The mother and child were walking along the pavement on Scott Hall Road in the Sheepscar area of Leeds on the morning of 16 January 2023 when they were struck by an Audi TT.

The court heard that the Audi TT was driven by Hardeep Bhachu, 27, who lost control of his vehicle, mounted the kerb, and struck the pedestrians.

As detailed by prosecution counsel Carmel Pearson, Bhachu previously pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and awaits sentencing. However, the prosecution maintains that Riyat is equally culpable for the deaths because he and Bhachu were allegedly engaged in street racing in the moments leading up to the crash.

What Did the Accused Tell the Court During His Evidence?

According to court reports from Leeds Live court reporter Sophie Corcoran, Riyat gave testimony explaining his reaction and thoughts regarding the fatal event.

When questioned about the crash that took the lives of the mother and child, Riyat stated to the jury that he felt “disgusted” by the entire incident and the loss of life.

However, Riyat maintained under examination that he does not accept criminal responsibility for the collision.

Defence arguments presented to the court highlighted that Riyat’s BMW never made physical contact with either the Audi TT or the two pedestrians. Riyat disputed the prosecution’s characterisation that his driving was a direct cause of Bhachu losing control.

What Evidence Was Presented Regarding Alleged Racing and Mobile Phone Use?

As reported by Carmel Pearson, leading the prosecution, dashcam and mobile phone footage retrieved during the police investigation showed Riyat and Bhachu pulled up side-by-side at red traffic lights on Scott Hall Road prior to the crash. As detailed by Ms Pearson in court, the two drivers did not know each other previously, but engaged in a brief conversation through open windows.

Transcripts of the audio presented to the court revealed Riyat commenting on the engine horsepower of Bhachu’s Audi TT, with Bhachu replying “thanks bro” after receiving a compliment on his vehicle.

The prosecution alleged that when the lights turned green, both drivers accelerated heavily and drove in convoy, weaving between traffic and reaching speeds well in excess of the 40mph speed limit.

Ms Pearson informed the jury that at a subsequent set of traffic lights, Riyat picked up his mobile phone, placed it on his steering wheel, and recorded Bhachu’s car. Riyat can be heard on the recording stating, “watch this guy let it off”.

Video evidence displayed the Audi accelerating away at high speed before losing control, spinning, and mounting the pavement where Ms Hulboj and her daughter were walking.

How Did the Prosecution and Defence Frame the Legal Responsibility?

As reported by ITV News Calendar, prosecutor Carmel Pearson told the jury that Riyat’s actions were an integral factor in the fatal outcome. Addressing the court, Ms Pearson stated:

“Just because the defendant didn’t crash his car, does not mean he escapes responsibility. The two men are both responsible”.

The prosecution argued that competitive, high-speed driving between two vehicles on a public road creates a mutual hazard where each driver encourages and fuels the dangerous behaviour of the other.

In contrast, the defence argued that Bhachu’s independent decision to drive at excessive speed and his subsequent failure to control his vehicle were the sole causes of the collision.

Riyat’s legal team submitted that filming the vehicle ahead and driving in proximity did not legally constitute causing the fatal impact.

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Background of the Scott Hall Road Collision Development

The fatal collision occurred at approximately 08:30 GMT on 16 January 2023 on Scott Hall Road, near its junction with Sheepscar Street North in Leeds.

Justyna Hulboj and her daughter Lena were on their morning walk to a local nursery when the vehicle hit them on the pavement. Emergency services attended the scene rapidly, but both victims were pronounced dead shortly after.

Following a lengthy investigation by West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team, both Hardeep Bhachu and Jasskamal Riyat were charged in mid-2024 with two counts each of causing death by dangerous driving.

Bhachu subsequently entered guilty pleas at Leeds Crown Court, acknowledging his direct role as the driver of the vehicle that struck the victims. Riyat entered not guilty pleas, leading to the full Crown Court trial.

Prediction: How This Development Can Affect Motorists and Joint-Culpability Legal Precedents

This trial and its ultimate verdict carry significant implications for road users, legal professionals, and road safety campaigners across the United Kingdom.

1. Establishment of Legal Precedent for Non-Contact Racing: Should Riyat be convicted of death by dangerous driving without his vehicle having physically struck a victim or another car, it will reinforce legal precedents regarding joint enterprise and competitive driving on public roads. It signals to motorists that engaging in spur-of-the-moment racing, encouraging dangerous driving, or recording high-speed manoeuvres can result in criminal liability for resulting fatalities.
2. Impact on Drivers and Mobile Phone Usage: The case highlights the severe legal consequences of using mobile devices to record driving behaviour. The inclusion of video footage recorded by a participant as evidence of encouragement and dangerous driving will likely serve as a stern warning to road users regarding digital self-incrimination.
3. Sentencing Considerations for Co-Defendants: The outcome of Riyat’s trial directly influences the final sentencing phase for Hardeep Bhachu. The court’s evaluation of combined culpability will determine how responsibility is apportioned in instances where multiple drivers engage in competitive behavior resulting in loss of life.