Video shows dangerous drivers racing before fatal crash
Osama Saeed and Asgar Taj, both from Bradford[1], and Mohammad Zubair Chaudhry, of Cheshire, were all due to appear at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court for sentencing last Friday after previously pleading guilty to causing the death of 34-year-old Asad Rashid by dangerous driving near Wilmslow, Cheshire, in September 2020. However, none of the men appeared in court so they were all sentenced in their absence. Saeed, 32, of St Paul's Road, Bradford, was sentenced to 12 years' jail, Taj, 35, of Heather Grove, Bradford, was also sentenced to 12 years behind bars, and Chaudhry, 31 of Kingsway, Cheadle, was given 10 years and seven months in prison.
Osama Saeed and Asgar Taj, of Bradford (Image: Cheshire Constabulary)
Mohammad Zubair Chaudhry (Image: Cheshire Constabulary) Arrest warrants were issued for all three men.
Police have released the below shocking footage showing video recovered from Choudhry's phone, examples of messages they would share, and scenes from the night of the fatal collision. [embedded content] Today, a Cheshire Constabulary spokesperson confirmed there were no updates in this case.
After sentencing, Sergeant Andrew Dennison, of Cheshire Constabulary, said: "Driving is a privilege, not a right, and it comes with great responsibility to act within the rules laid down when you pass your test. "The sad death of Asad that night shows the catastrophic consequences that will happen when these rules are ignored. "Taj, Chaudhury and Saeed all came to Cheshire with Rashid knowing they were coming to race on the roads around Cheshire.
"They drove in a manner that put everyone around them at great risk and the inevitable conclusion of this driving was a serious collision that claimed the life of Asad. "The knowledge of the group coming to race and the actions they undertook meant that they were all culpable in the death of Asad and as a result are all guilty of causing his death by driving dangerously. "As a result of the selfish and dangerous actions taken that night four families have been torn apart.
"Asad is now dead, while Chaudhry, Saeed and Taj have all been handed significant prison sentences.
"None of the men have shown any remorse for their actions, and that fact that they failed to attend the hearing demonstrates a total lack of accountability."