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news
Justice (Lonpicman, Wikimedia Commons)Dangerous driver who killed cyclist feigned brain injury in failed bid to avoid jail term
A Leeds motorist pretended to be mentally incapacitated in a bid to avoid a jail sentence for causing the death of a cyclist by dangerous driving. Mohammed Munir had hit John Harkins head-on while driving at double the speed limit on the wrong side of the road while overtaking his cousin’s car in Leeds.
The Yorkshire Evening Post reports that Harkins was riding home from training a university cheerleading squad on November 14 at around 11pm when Munir went round keep-left bollards on Kirkstall Road into the opposite carriageway and hit him.
Munir’s car overturned, crushing Harkins, and demolishing the front of two businesses.
A founder and coach of the Aviators Cheer cheerleading programme, Harkins was a popular man. The bike he was riding had been crowdfunded for him after he suffered two bike thefts in 2015. Hundreds paid tribute to him at a candle-lit vigil following his death.
The man who hit him bought a new Audi three months after the fatal crash and continued driving, while pretending to police and doctors that he was mentally incapacitated in a bid to escape justice.
To prove he was lying, police obtained CCTV footage of Munir using a scanner and checking his bill in Ikea.
He was jailed for six years and nine months after being found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and perverting the course of justice.
Judge Rodney Jameson QC told him: “You simply decided to lie repeatedly to frustrate the investigation into your criminality.
"I am entirely satisfied that you knew you were guilty of causing the death of John Harkins by dangerous driving.
“Your behaviour throughout the investigation has been selfish, cowardly and dishonest. You could not have cared less. Your actions were motivated by pure selfishness.”
Jameson added that Munir had at one point said to a custody officer, “why can’t they just get over it?” in reference to Harkins’ relatives.
Ann Drury, Senior Investigating Officer in the case, said: “Munir undertook a lengthy charade to frustrate the investigation to try and avoid facing the consequences of his actions. I hope that today’s guilty verdict and sentence brings some sort of closure to Mr Harkins family, who have shown great dignity throughout the investigation and court proceedings.”
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
Latest Comments
- Jack Sexty 4 min 54 sec ago
Yep it's fixed now, it was a server issue after all! Apologies again.
- horace_goes_sking 15 min 18 sec ago
A good example here, although there is a path the other side....
- mark1a 45 min 5 sec ago
I have one of these, and I would say it's a spanner, the jaws are too thin (2.5mm as Mike mentions) really for any decent purchase on anything that...
- Simon E 1 hour 2 min ago
Surely simpler (and better hygiene) if you change your undies when you get to work?
- Mr Hoopdriver 1 hour 5 min ago
I have a bad feeling about this one, especially after reading the defence's questions....
- HoarseMann 1 hour 11 min ago
"The wheels on the bus..." ...
- Simon E 1 hour 25 min ago
I'd lump 1 & 2 together, they're not reasonable if they give 12" of room, that's incompetent....
- eburtthebike 1 hour 40 min ago
With the latest collision pointed out to Conservative councillor Andy Morgan, he penned a lengthy reply describing it as an "accident" that "is...
- check12 4 hours 23 min ago
105 weight is in the arms not the rings
- Daveyraveygravey 4 hours 27 min ago
This is 100% typical of media attitudes to cyclists. That tosser of a journalist should be made to ride to work for a month, get some perspective.
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19 comments
Great that the Police were able to prove that the scumbag was lieing.
Bad that the sentence was not far longer.
Out of interest, does anyone know what mitigating circumstances were taken into consideration at sentencing? 6 years seems fairly low considering there was no doubt it was dangerous driving, there was no remorse, the guy went to great lengths to avoid prosecution... proven... etc. etc.
At a guess . .'he was in a car'.
I would be happy to chip in for a contract.
Anyone know if there was a driving ban attached to it? Please tell me this scumbag will never be allowed to drive again.
A private prosecution is neither necessary nor possible, he has already been found guilty and sentenced. If the crime is on the list of eligible offences and you think the sentence is too lenient you - yes you - can refer the decision for further consideration. Anyone, and it only needs one person, can do this and the procedure is explained online.
He didn't say private prosecution, he said private action; I'm thinking hit man.
Couldn't they just hang him instead? Total and utter waste of oxygen
.
Preferably by his gonads.
Even in a world full of s**t, this case is hard to believe, and this quote from the Yorkshire Post is literally incredible:
"He [the judge] said their [the family's] ordeal had been made worse by the “disgusting discourtesy” they had been shown by those who had come to court to support Munir."
Heartbreaking to read https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/crime/selfish-coward-lied-ab...
The sentence puts the hollow promises of the government to increase the sentences for drivers like this into clear relief; they're lying just like the driver.
Its not just the driver that is being discourteous (showing rudeness and a lack of consideration for other people). IMHO the judge is behaving in a similar vein by using a "mild" term to summarise the drivers behaviour.
If people are willing to Crowdfund the victim a couple of bikes, surely more will Crowdfund a private action against this scum!
Can't the prosecution appeal? What possible justification can there not be for not making an example of this guy and giving him the maximum sentence?
I don't care if readers here like it or not but I hope that piece of shit gets ass raped every single night of his inadequate sentance.
So 6 years for attempting to pervert the course of justice & 9 months for death by dangerous driving then...
This is so totally inadequate as a sentence - should be the full 14 years for Death by Dangerous Driving & another few years for attempting to pervert the course of justice on top.
But then again, it was only a cyclist...
I can't find a report that states this, or were you being ironic?
Yes being ironic. Just thinking the courts would take perverting the course of justice more seriously than causing death by dangerous driving...
Double post
Double post
"Jameson added that Munir had at one point said to a custody officer, “why can’t they just get over it?” in reference to Harkins’ relatives."
Utter scum.