A FIVE-year-old was tragically killed and another injured after a dad’s electric car ‘accelerated of its own accord’, a court heard.
Ashenafei Demisse, 52, was sitting in his ID.4 when the horror unfolded in November 2022.
Demisse, 52, was sitting in his Volkswagen ID.4 when he allegedly hit two youngstersCredit: Getty
He was with his son in a car park outside their flat close to London Bridge station, in south .
Tragic Fareed, five, was on his way home from school with mum Maryam Lemulu.
They stopped to chat with Demisse’s wife, Yodit Samuel, and their son Raphael, 12, as they were close family friends.
Demisse offered Fareed some sweets, while still sitting in his VW, when the car suddenly accelerated and hit Fareed and Raphael.
The vehicle also ploughed into five other cars before coming to a stop, a jury at the Old Bailey heard.
Fareed’s mum rushed him in her arms to nearby Guy’s Hospital, where he was tragically pronounced dead a short time later.
He died from multiple traumatic injuries including a fractured skull, the court heard.
Raphael spent a month in hospital with both his legs broken.
Demisse is now on trial after denying causing death and serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving.
Prosecuting, Michael Williams, told the there was no evidence of a fault in the Volkswagen.
A investigation concluded the vehicle could only have accelerated due to driver input, the jury heard.
Mr Williams told the court the defendant “inadvertently pressed the accelerator, causing it to crash into the two boys”.
He added how the car was at “near maximum speed” and argued the driver mistakenly believed he had been pressing the brake pedal.
Defending, Stephen Knight, told the jury at the Old Bailey today: “Mr Demisse did not press the car’s accelerator.
“This all-electric car moved of its own accord.”
Ms Lemulu said in a statement read to the court: “The car suddenly moved forward. It did not make any noise. It took off very fast.
“Yodit shouted, ‘the kids’. It hit Fareed on the side and I saw his hand go slowly down the car.
“I screamed and said, ‘Please call help, my son is dead’.”
Demisse’s wife said in a statement he had been a taxi driver for many years and was working seven days a week at the time.
She said: “All of a sudden, in a split second, I saw the car move forward very quickly.
“I don’t recall any engine sounds or revving.”
Ms Samuel expressed her condolences to Ms Lemulu, who she considered “a sister”.
The trial continues.
A police investigation concluded the vehicle could only have accelerated due to driver input, the jury heardCredit: AFP
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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