‘Racing brother’ in BMW tells jury he ‘lost control because of mud’ before crash killed dad
Abubakr Yusaf is accused of racing with his brother Umar Yusaf
09:49, 12 Sep 2025
From left: Abubakr Yusaf, 30, and Umar Yusaf, 34, of Esmond Road, Manchester(Image: Andrew Price)An eyecare specialist accused of racing his brother before a fatal head-on crash[1] claimed he lost control of his BMW 'because there was mud on the road'.
Abubakr Yusaf, from Cheetham Hill[2], denied driving 'like a d***head' in the moments leading to a crash that killed dad Rhys Jenkins, a 41-year-old rugby referee, and injured his nine-year-old son on the A483 near Welshpool, North Wales[3], last November 16.
The 30-year-old and his older brother, Umar Yusaf, 34, both of Esmond Road, deny causing Mr Jenkins' death by dangerous driving.
Giving evidence in Mold Crown Court yesterday (September 11), locum optometrist Abubakr Yusaf insisted his car hadn't begun to 'fishtail' in the moments before impact because he was driving too fast.
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"I don't deny there were any overtakes during the journey but it was done in a safe manner," he insisted to a jury, claiming that any witness who described him to have been 'driving like a d***head' was wrong.
The jury has heard the brothers were in BMW and Audi cars when the tragedy unfolded on the night of November 16 last year.
Abubakr Ben Yusaf (left) and Umar Ben Yusaf pictured outside court(Image: David Powell)Opening the case, prosecuting barrister John Philpotts recalled evidence from van driver Ryan Jones, who said the BMW driven by the younger brother had attempted to overtake on a right-hand bend.
It allegedly pulled 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.
Audi driver 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 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 and swerved into the oncoming lane, where Mr Jenkins was driving a Toyota Yaris towards Newtown.
Rhys Jenkins(Image: Dyfed-Powys Police)"There was a collision head-on," Mr Philpotts said. "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.
"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."
The brothers were described 'tailgating' other traffic. The BMW had spun in the crash and both the BMW and Mr Jenkins's Toyota Yaris had "catastrophic" damage.
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"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," said Mr Philpotts.
"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."
Article continues belowThe brothers also deny being uninsured and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
The trial continues.
Proceeding.
References
- ^ accused of racing his brother before a fatal head-on crash (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ Cheetham Hill (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ North Wales (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ here (www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk)
- ^ HERE (chat.whatsapp.com)