A hit-and-run killer mowed down a dad on New Year's Day whilst drinking from a magnum of champagne in a Zipcar hired under his friend's name. Muhammed Gure was already banned from driving after a disqualification for drink driving in March 2020 when he ploughed into 'much loved family-man' Paul Campbell on Warwick Road, Earl's Court, at around 4:20am on January 1, 2021.
The 26-year-old economics graduate, who was working as an NHS Health Care Advisor, was undertaking in a black VW Golf at 50mph, on a 30mph three lane road, when he failed to slow down or take any evasive manoeuvre and smashed into Mr Campbell, tossing him into the air and onto the carriageway, Southwark Crown Court heard on Wednesday (December 20).
But instead of calling 999, Gure, of Wicklow Court, Ealing, briefly stopped the car then drove off, leaving Mr Campbell to die before conspiring with his 26-year-old pal Haroon Aria to cover up his involvement. Aria, who previously allowed Gure to hire Zipcars in his name despite his ban, then reported the car stolen to the hire company and police.
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Gure denied being the driver, and continues to deny his involvement, putting Mr Campbell's family through a trial where he was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving whilst disqualified, and causing death by driving an uninsured vehicle. Aria was also convicted of attempting to pervert the course of justice for his role in the failed cover up.
'You have tried every trick in the book'
Prosecutor Jenny Burgess told the court how Gure was caught drink driving on February 17 2020 then was convicted and given a £120 fine and 20 month ban. But Gure continued to get behind the wheel, and was even caught speeding, fined £50 and given two penalty points, 10 days before hitting Mr Campbell, Ms Burgess told the court.
Ms Burgess read a statement from Mr Campbell's daughter, Cydney, who said: “No words can describe the pain and suffering that we all went through when my dad died... I have never been the same since I found out my poor dad was gone… He was ripped away from us so unexpectedly… I still had a whole life to grow and make memories with my dad."
Paul's son, Vinny, said the news of his dad's death induced 'sheer panic’ and ‘pure sickness’ and that Cydney 'let out a scream which still haunts me' when he told her.
"You have put my family and me through hell. You have tried every trick in the book to prolong this case and get away with this. You even stooped low enough to tell your friend, in his statement, my dad jumped in front of the car. That is something I can never forgive. If you had stopped and called an ambulance I could forgive you for this," he told Gure.
"You have robbed our family of a dad, brother, son, uncle, and most importantly a granddad... I hope when you are laying in that cell at night you take the time to realise the pain and suffering your actions have caused us."
'Absolutely no remorse'
On New Year's Eve 2020, Gure hired a Zipcar under Aria's name, which he had done with his consent before. He then drove it around London for several hours, drinking from a magnum sized bottle of champagne. This was later found by police in the car. Around four hours before the crash, Gure met up with Aria, who later told jurors his friend was drunk and slurring his words.
Aria asked Gure repeatedly to return the car, but he refused and found himself driving down Warwick Road just after 4am. A witness, Grace Drummond, told the trial she saw Mr Campbell step into the road and thought 'he had plenty of time' to cross, but noticed Gure's car appear in her rear-view mirror before he sped past on her inside then into Mr Campbell.
Judge Gregory Perrins told Gure: "She watched as you made no attempt to slow down or take any evasive action, tossing Mr Campbell into the air. She said you stopped, though briefly. The tracking data shows you can't have stopped longer than a few seconds leaving Mr Campbell to die in the road."
Ms Drummond tried to follow Gure, while calling 999 to report the crash to police. Paramedics rushed Mr Campbell to hospital but he died at around 6:28am the same day. "You knew you had hit a pedestrian and you knew you had left him laying in the road, but your thoughts turned immediately to yourself," Judge Perrins spat.
Gure fled the scene in the car then met up with Aria 'in state of panic', telling him 'I have just done a hit-and-run'. Aria then called the police and Zipcar to report the car stolen, in an attempt to hide that Gure was the driver. Later he gave evidence that Gure had been drinking and hired the car in his name against his will.
"It's notable you have appeared to show absolutely no remorse before, during, or after the trial," Judge Perrins told Gure. "You maintained at all times you were not the driver of the car... Even today you have sought to derail proceedings by sacking your counsel."
Judge Perrins jailed Gure for 11 years for causing death by dangerous driving, and disqualified him from driving for 13 years and six months. He will also serve concurrent sentences of six years and 18 months for causing death while driving whilst disqualified and driving uninsured respectively.
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