A man, aged 41, facing charges of killing his teenage girlfriend by crashing her into a lamppost with a recovery truck, admitted to fabricating a hit-and-run story out of panic, a court heard.
The accused, Mohammed Azim, allegedly used his flatbed truck to trap 19-year-old Lily Whitehouse against a lamppost following a dispute on his birthday in Oldbury on November 5 the previous year. Whitehouse, a mother to a child from a previous relationship, suffered fatal chest injuries from the incident.
During his trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court, Azim denied the murder charge, claiming that he accidentally struck Whitehouse as he dropped her off near her residence. However, he initially misled police by alleging that another vehicle had struck Whitehouse and fled the scene.
The prosecution highlighted Azim’s multiple falsehoods regarding the circumstances of Whitehouse’s death. Despite initially stating that Whitehouse was hit by a hit-and-run driver, Azim later confessed to accidentally running her over while trying to depart.
Under questioning from the prosecutor, Azim refuted claims of chasing Whitehouse down the road in anger, asserting that she wanted to return with him. The defendant admitted to fabricating the hit-and-run narrative to protect himself but insisted that he was disoriented and not in control of his actions.
The court also heard how Azim provided misleading information to healthcare professionals while in custody, including denying a romantic relationship with Whitehouse and making claims regarding drug-related threats against her.
Azim attributed his contradictory statements to medication-induced memory lapses and emotional turmoil following the traumatic incident. He expressed deep remorse for the tragedy, indicating willingness to sacrifice his life to bring back Whitehouse.
The trial is ongoing, with further proceedings expected.
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