Driver who hit and killed seven-year-old boy in wrong side road crash is jailed

A seven-year-old boy who was left home alone in a dark house with no electricity or gas while his mum visited her lover was killed by a speeding drug driver after going outside. Taxi driver Mohsin Hussain, 32, who mowed down and killed Malakye Hall[1] while driving on the wrong side of the road, has been jailed today for nine years and nine months after admitting causing death by dangerous driving. Hussain, of Carlisle Street in Bradford, was under the influence of cannabis when he hit the child on Manchester Road in Bradford.

Bradford Crown Court heard how seven-year-old Malakye had been left alone by his mother and had managed to get out of the locked house when he was hit just after 10pm on August 11, 2020. Malakye’s mum Wendy Hall was jailed in August 2021 for three years[2] for leaving her young son home alone with no electricity or gas on the night of his death.

Boy, 7, is killed by taxi after escaping home where mum abandoned him and bolted door[3]Mohsin Hussain has been jailed (Yorkshire Live/MEN Media)Wendy Hall (Yorkshire Live/MEN Media)

YorkshireLive[4] reported at the time that Hall had left her mobile phone with Malakye for him to play on while she was away, but it appeared that he got out of the house shortly after she left. When a police officer came across the scene of the fatal collision, the damaged phone was found in the boy’s possession and inquiries led them to the house which was in darkness with the door open. Hall was subsequently traced to her partner’s home.

On Thursday, Prosecutor Abigail Langford played dashcam footage to the court showing Hussain’s journey to Manchester Road from his home. She said he was not working at the time and had failed to renew his licence as a taxi driver with Bradford City Council. She said: “An animated map shows him travelling in the direction of Prince’s Way at speeds far in excess of the 30mph limit…

He travelled at speeds and onto a ring road onto Jacobs Well roundabout, through a red light…You will see while travelling he engages in an undertaking manoeuvre.” The court heard that following the collision Hussain stayed at the scene and occupants from another vehicle, members of the public and police officers attempted to help Malakye who was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary where it was found he had suffered extensive head injuries. He was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Ms Langford said: “A collision investigator agreed that Malakye Hall hadn’t pressed the call button and did appear suddenly in the carriageway… In interview he [Hussain] denied being responsible for causing the collision and identified that Malakye had ran into the road unexpectedly. In a prepared statement he expressed remorse that Malakye had been killed as a consequence of this incident.” The court was told Hussain went on to plead guilty to the charge of causing death by dangerous driving.

In a victim personal statement summarised to the court, Malakye’s family told of their heartbreak and loss following his death. Ms Langford said: “They describe him as the light and soul of their lives and their cheeky playmate. They describe that he was loved and liked by all who knew him…

They described missing him and being robbed of a future life that they would have…” Part of the statement was read to the court which said: “We will miss out on celebrating his birthdays, passing his driving test, going to his graduation, being present at his marriage and when he had his own children.” Malakye’s family said the “actions that led to his death have affected us immensely” and spoke of the trauma of passing the location of the tragedy. Ms Langford said: “The delay of acceptance of guilt was, in their understanding, cruel, causing prolonged suffering.

The sentence for them of losing Malakye is one that will never end.” The court heard that dad-of-three Hussain had previous cautions and reprimands for speeding and other driving offences and that he was under the influence of cannabis at the time of the collision. Mitigating, Oliver Martin Jarvis said that he has since been volunteering to educate children on road safety. The barrister said: “He is the earner of the family.

He has three children aged six and under. There is an observation that he has changed since this collision. Of course, it is too late to turn the clock back.

References have described him as a hard worker. He says he channels his remorse into volunteering. “A pre-sentence report states that he accepts some responsibility for the offences.

He constantly stated he was sorry. I have to accept the driving was impaired through drugs.” Hussain was jailed for nine years and nine months and disqualified from driving for ten years and ten months, of which at the end he will have to undertake an extended retest. His Honour Judge Rose said: “Nothing that this court can say and no sentence that this court can pass can ever compensate for the loss of a little boy…

They [his family] continue and will continue to mourn his passing and suffer their own trauma resulting from the death of this child.

A death which you must bear primary responsibility.”

The judge said Malakye’s mother’s neglect “doesn’t absolve you for the death of the child” and added that his “driving ability would have been impaired by the use of the drug.”

References

1. ^ mowed down and killed Malakye Hall (www.mirror.co.uk)
2. ^ Malakye’s mum Wendy Hall was jailed in August 2021 for three years (www.mirror.co.uk)
3. ^ Boy, 7, is killed by taxi after escaping home where mum abandoned him and bolted door (www.mirror.co.uk)
4. ^ YorkshireLive (www.examinerlive.co.uk)