A man has been jailed for more than 13 years after two ‘loving’ and ‘caring’ teenagers were killed whilst watching a street racing event in Oldbury.
Ben Corfield and Liberty Charris died after 56-year-old Dhiya Al-Maamoury lost control of his heavily modified Nissan Skyline and crashed into a crowd of pedestrians standing on the pavement.
On Sunday, 22 November, 2022, an illegal street racing event was organised along Oldbury Road, Oldbury.
Street racers were using the section of the Oldbury Road between traffic roundabouts with Spon Lane South and Rood End Road to perform circuits.
Hundreds of pedestrians were standing on the pavement including Liberty, aged 16 and Ben, aged 19 to watch the event.
Al- Maamoury drove his Nissan at speed along Oldbury Road, which has a 40mph speed limit, before losing control, and veering off the carriageway to crash into the group of people.
He was travelling at around 54 to 57mph before the collision.
Two of our officers, who were patrolling locations associated with street racing in the area, were nearby and arrived within seconds of the collision.
Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Liberty and Ben were sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
In a powerful victim impact statement read out in court, Liberty’s father said: “Liberty had so much to live for and to give, she treated everyone and everything with love and kindness.
“The fact she is gone is devastating to me, her whole family and anyone else that had the pleasure of Liberty in their lives during her short life of sixteen years. Liberty will be forever remembered by so many.
“The family bond could not have been stronger and that is why the loss of Liberty is impacting us all so dramatically.”
Ben’s father, also explained his tragic loss in his victim impact statement: “Ben was a caring person who would do anything to help anyone out, I was the lucky one he wanted to emulate everything I did.
“That night, 20th November, the reason I lived for was taken away from me. My only son whom I cherished so deeply and loved beyond words was killed for nothing.
“The pain of losing a child is unbearable, it’s unimaginable heart tearing pain that’s with you every second of the day and night, it never goes away.”
Two teenagers, Ebonie Parkes and Ethan Kilburn, were also seriously injured and taken to hospital with life threatening and life changing injuries.
They are still recovering from their injuries today.
Al-Maamoury was arrested from the scene and following further enquiries which included recovering CCTV and mobile phone footage, he was charged with a number of driving offences.
He admitted to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving at an earlier hearing.
Today, at Wolverhampton Crown Court Al-Maamoury was jailed for 13 years and six months.
Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes from our Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “Al-Maamoury has rightly been put behind bars for killing two young people and seriously injuring two others.
“Ben and Liberty were pedestrians on a pavement and should have been afforded some protection but due to Al-Maamoury’s dangerous driving their families have got to live with their loss forever.
“Our thoughts are with Liberty and Ben’s loved ones.”
Head of Roads Policing, Superintended Gareth Mason said: “Al-Maamoury was 54 years old which proves its no longer ‘boy racers’ who are driving dangerously and speeding on our roads.
“This case illustrates how dangerous street racing events are, and we are committed to doing everything we can to tackle these illegal meet ups.
“We have recently seen an injection of resources into roads policing at the force, with more staff, more vehicles and more technology.
“Under Operation Hercules we are making arrests, stinging tyres, revoking licenses and gaining intelligence about where street racing events regularly happen.
“However, we need the public’s help. If you have any dash cam or mobile phone footage of any street racing events or dangerous driving then please submit it to us.”