Speeding driver jailed by telematics

A driver who killed a woman while racing another driver in his BMW has been handed a custodial sentence.

Farid Reza, 36, killed a 21-year-old student in Kingston, when racing his BMW 330d M Sport against William Spicer, who was driving an identical vehicle.

He also had five children in his car at the time, all of whom were injured.

By assessing the telematics, police were able to work out that he must have been driving at least 69mph just moments before he hit pedestrian Hina Shamim. The telematics also disproved Farid Reza’s claim that William Spicer’s car had collided with his, causing him to lose control.

Judge Richard Leon Marks said, ‘The evidence provided in the case was essential to assessing the speed of the driver and the speed in which he was travelling – far over the speed limit – when he hit Shamim. The consequences to Shamim’s family are devastating and no sentence I could give would begin to address or consolidate their feelings. I accept that Reza’s remorse is genuine but it was only him responsible for putting his foot down on the accelerator that day.’

Neil Thomas, director of investigative services at motor insurance and road traffic collision investigators, Asset Protection Unit, which analysed the telematics data, said, ‘We recognise how devastating this incident has been to everyone involved and send our condolences to Ms Shamim’s family and friends.

‘Accurate analysis of telematics data can be complex but our expert witness was able to assist the Police investigation, and present his testimony in a way which helped the Court and the jury fully understand the incontrovertible and unchallenged evidence from the Telematics device.’

Farid Reza was sentenced to five years and three months in prison.