Dad ‘had no chance’ in fatal crash after brothers raced BMW and Audi, court told

Abubakr Yusaf and Umar Yusaf both deny causing Rhys Jenkins' death

10:22, 09 Sep 2025Updated 10:22, 09 Sep 2025

Two brothers raced a BMW and an Audi moments before a head-on smash which killed[1] a rugby referee and seriously injured his nine-year-old son, a jury has heard[2].

Abubakr Yusaf, 30, and Umar Yusaf, 34, from Cheetham Hill[3], were described as a 'car crash waiting to happen' at Mold Crown Court yesterday (September 8).

Jurors heard how the pair had been allegedly driving dangerously and at speed before a crash on the A483 near Welshpool, North Wales[4], on the night of November 16 last year.

Prosecuting, barrister John Philpotts said Rhys Jenkins, 41, 'had no chance of taking evasive action' to avoid the crash which killed him and seriously hurt his young child.

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He described the account of van driver Ryan Jones, who said the BMW driven by Abubakr Yusaf had attempted to overtake on a right-hand bend - pulling into the opposite lane despite approaching headlights.

On the approach to a left-hand bend, the BMW driver had been 'desperate' to overtake Mr Jones and pulled out again, Mr Philipotts said.

Umar Yusaf was directly behind the BMW, driving in the same dangerous manner, according to the prosecution.

"Mr Jones estimates they were travelling at around 70mph," the barrister said.

The court heard how the two cars had reached a straight stretch of road when the BMW began to 'fishtail', moving from side to side.

The passenger side had gone on to the verge and Abubakr Yusaf had lost control, swerving into the oncoming lane where Mr Jenkins was driving a Toyota Yaris towards Newtown.

Mr Philpotts said: "There was a collision head-on. Rhys Jenkins died at the scene and his son Ioan was very seriously injured. The boy was taken by air ambulance to Alder Hey children's hospital."

He added: "The manner in which that BMW and Audi were being driven by the defendants meant they were effectively a car crash waiting to happen.

"They were driving aggressively and dangerously.

Each effectively encouraged the other to drive in the same way. In effect they were racing and both responsible for the fatal collision, even though only one of the vehicles was physically directly involved."

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The brothers were described as 'tailgating' other traffic. Mr Philpotts said witness Anthony Demery, who came across the aftermath of the crash, saw an Audi which had stopped in front of the BMW.

Two men were inside the Audi and one had allegedly remarked: "Come on, let's go, let go." The jury heard that when police arrived at the scene, the defendants had left it.

The BMW had spun in the crash and both the BMW and Mr Jenkins's Toyota Yaris had 'catastrophic' damage.

"It's the case for the prosecution that this tragic incident was caused when the manner of Abubakr Yusaf's driving caused him to lose control of the BMW," Mr Philpotts said.

"Attempting to correct that loss of control by steering to his right caused the BMW to veer completely into the oncoming lane.

"Mr Jenkins had no chance of taking evasive action.

The competitive driving of the brother in the Audi had contributed very significantly."

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Abubakr Yusaf, 30, and Umar Yusaf, 34, both of Esmond Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester, deny causing the death of Mr Jenkins, from Deuddw, Powys, by dangerous driving on the A483.

They were also alleged to have been uninsured, and to have caused serious injury by dangerous driving.

Both deny the charges.

The trial continues.

Proceeding.

References

1. ^ killed (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
2. ^ jury has heard (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
3. ^ Cheetham Hill (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
4. ^ North Wales (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
5. ^ here (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
6. ^ here (data.reachplc.com)
7. ^ HERE (chat.whatsapp.com)