Two men who tried to conceal evidence after death of 25 year old Craig Roger in a hit and run back in 2014 have been jailed.
Craig was crossing Wilbraham Road, near to the Spread Eagle Pub in Chorlton, when he was struck by a black Porsche Panamera, driven by Mohammed Basit Chaudhry from Chorlton-cum-Hardy. The vehicle failed to stop
Craig was left critically injured in the road. He was taken to hospital where he tragically died.
Mohammed Omayr,34,of Wilbraham Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy and Raheel Rehman,29, of Lambton Road, Chorlton-cum-Hardy were jailed at Manchester Crown Court for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, having pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing.
Omayr was jailed for two years and three months and Rehmen was jailed for three years and nine months.
Minutes after the collision, CCTV showed Raheel Rehman leaving a petrol station forecourt in a silver BMW, driving at speed directly to the scene of the collision.After being contacted by Chaudhry, Mohammed Omayr caught up with him and they both travelled in convoy into a car park on Brookburn Road.
Thirty-five minutes after the collision, Chaudhry activated his detention curfew tag by walking into his home after he was dropped off by Omayr.Around 11.30pm, the Porsche exploded in the car park after Rehman set it alight. It was later recovered by officers, burned out.In the early hours of 16 March 2014, Chaudhry left the UK. On 9 April 2015 he was involved in a collision in Dubai and died at the scene. His identity and death were confirmed by police when his body was brought back to the UK.
Paying tribute to him, Craig’s family, said: “Today marks the legal closure for the tragic death of Craig but the grief and heartache for us will go on forever.
“To Lee Westhead and his team, the MRI and Salford hospitals, also to the people who cared for Craig ‘til help arrived on the night of the collision, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
“To anyone who thinks they can drive recklessly and dangerously on our roads, this is the result, and to think you can then run and cover up your crime – you cannot and you will always look over your shoulder ‘til you are brought to justice.”
Senior Investigating Officer, Sergeant Lee Westhead from GMP’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This investigation has been extremely complex with enquiries conducted across the UK, Europe, Pakistan and Dubai.
“The unwavering patience and dignity demonstrated by Craig’s family throughout this period is utterly amazing and my ongoing condolences remain with them.
The death of Mohammed Basit Chaudhry brought the main part of the investigation to an end however, continued enquiries led to the conviction of Omayr and Rehman.
The decisions they made that night are truly abhorrent.”
He added:
“They are cowardly and insidious individuals who should be utterly ashamed of their actions in concealing evidence and allowing the person responsible for Craig’s death to avoid arrest.
Those involved in collisions and those that would seek to help them avoid justice, should take heed of this tragic case. We will never stop looking for the evidence to identify and prosecute you, we will be relentless in our search for you, there is nowhere you can hide.I hope today’s sentencing brings some comfort and closure to Craig’s family and friends.”
