A 21-year-old driver, Zulkernain Ahmed, has been sentenced to life in prison for using his Audi as a weapon in a fatal crash that resulted in the death of a 16-year-old boy in Sheffield. The victim, Abdullah Yaser Abdullah Taleb, had recently arrived in England from Yemen. Ahmed has been ordered to serve a minimum of 30 years in prison.
Accompanying Ahmed in the car was his brother, Armaan Ahmed, aged 27, who received a 17-year prison sentence. The judge extended his minimum term due to aggravating factors in the case, requiring him to serve two-thirds of his sentence before being eligible for release on license.
The tragic incident occurred on June 4 last year when Abdullah was walking on the pavement and was struck by the Audi driven by Zulkernain Ahmed, who was targeting a group of e-bike riders following a dispute related to e-bikes. Prosecutors stated that Abdullah was an unintended victim of the deliberate attack.
During the trial at Sheffield Crown Court, Abdullah’s father, Yaser Abdullah Al Yazidi, shared a statement describing his son as an optimistic individual who cherished life and people. Abdullah, who was eager to start college in September 2025, unfortunately passed away shortly after the incident despite efforts by medical personnel.
Prosecutor Alistair MacDonald KC revealed that Zulkernain Ahmed had targeted one of the e-bike riders, La’Rome Divers, intending to use his vehicle as a weapon in a revenge attack related to an e-bike theft incident. Despite psychological factors influencing Ahmed’s actions, the court heard that he expressed remorse and apologized for his actions in a letter.
In the letter, Ahmed expressed deep regret and sorrow for his actions, emphasizing his desire to turn back time and make amends. He also mentioned learning CPR and chest compressions in prison to potentially help others in the future.