Two men have been jailed for a total of 28 years after racing high-powered cars, killing a mum and her four-year-old daughter instantly as they walked to school.
Jasskamal Riyat, 37, and Hardeep Bhachu, 29, were racing along a busy road in Leeds, West Yorkshire, when Bhachu’s Audi TT RS lost control at almost 90mph and mounted the pavement.
Justyna Hulboj, 27, and Lena Czepczor, four, were killed as they walked to school on January 16, 2023.
Leeds Crown Court heard the mum had stopped to adjust her daughter’s coat moments before the horror smash on Scott Hall Road.
In court today, Riyat was jailed for 16 years, and Bhachu was jailed for 12 years.
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In a heartbreaking victim impact statement, Justyna’s fiancé and Lena’s father, Dominik Czepczor, said his entire world had been destroyed.
He said: ‘When I was informed about their deaths, my whole world collapsed in one second.
He described how he had struggled with suicidal thoughts and been unable to return to work, adding: ‘Every day, I feel a huge void after their departure. Every day, I imagine what it would be like if they were still alive. We had so many plans and dreams. In one moment, it all ended.’
Mr Czepczor said he had been forced to move home because of the painful memories and was taking antidepressants to cope with his devastating loss.
He said: ‘No one can bring back the lives of my fiancé and my daughter, and this nightmare will last for the rest of my life.’
Sentencing the drivers, Judge Ray Singh said: ‘They were mother and daughter doing something entirely ordinary and entirely innocent, making their way to school.
‘In that moment, neither of them could possibly have anticipated what was about to happen. They should have continued with their lives. Instead, their lives ended on a pavement.’
The court heard that the two men, who did not previously know each other, encountered one another at traffic lights shortly after the roundabout.
Riyat was driving a powerful BMW M135i with a three-litre engine and 315 brake horsepower, while Bhachu was behind the wheel of a 2.5-litre Audi TT RS.
They began chatting through their open windows about the power of their cars before accelerating away at speed.
Prosecutor Carmel Pearson said Riyat’s engine could be heard revving heavily on dashcam footage as he pulled away, with Bhachu accelerating after him.
She said it was obvious to witnesses that the pair were racing. Footage played during Riyat’s trial showed the cars speeding alongside each other, while Riyat filmed the Audi on his mobile phone.
Seconds later, Bhachu lost control of his Audi while travelling at almost 90mph on the 40mph road.
The car struck a kerb, mounted the pavement near a Jaguar dealership and ploughed into Justyna and Lena shortly after 8.30am.
Riyat drove past the wreckage, continuing to film, before carrying on to work without contacting emergency services.
Bhachu, of Grant Row, Adel, admitted two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, while Riyat, of Buckstone Avenue, Moortown, denied the same offences.
Riyat insisted he was not racing and did not cause the deaths, although he admitted speeding, illegally using his phone and overtaking other vehicles.
But a jury unanimously convicted him in August after prosecutors argued he was equally responsible despite his BMW never hitting the victims.
Riyat’s defence said he wanted to ‘extend his apologies and sorrow for what happened on that fateful morning’.
The court heard he has since become a father, with his baby boy described as a ‘constant reminder’ of the tragedy.
Bhachu, an insurance broker, suffered a broken eye socket, broken nose, collapsed lung and knee and ankle injuries in the crash.
He was unconscious for three days and still requires surgery. His defence said he was remorseful and could not comprehend the suffering he had caused.
Judge Singh said: ‘A powerful car is not an invitation to test its limits on a public road. The consequences can be irreversible.’
Both men must serve two-thirds of their prison sentences in custody. Bhachu was banned from driving for 12 years and Riyat for 14 years.
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