A woman has gone on trial accused of killing a pedestrian after driving her Audi at excessive speed through a Birmingham junction. Shanise Hussain, aged 27, of Perry Barr, denies causing the death of Maurice Middleton by dangerous driving on Great Hampton Street in Hockley on July 21, 2024.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:45pm when Hussain's Audi A3 mounted the pavement, striking Mr Middleton, 65, and projecting him into a shop front. The vehicle also hit a second pedestrian, who remarkably escaped serious injury.
Prosecutor Philip Allman told Birmingham Crown Court that Hussain was driving at 48mph in a 30mph zone when she swerved to avoid a Jaguar that moved into her lane. The Audi's nearside wheels hit a central reservation kerb, and Hussain then overcorrected, causing the offside wheels to strike another kerb. Instead of braking, she fully depressed the accelerator, leading to the vehicle careering diagonally across the road onto the pavement at about 46mph.
Mr Allman stated: "This is at its heart a case that concerns Ms Hussain's driving and the standard of that driving which resulted in a tragic loss of life." He argued that a careful driver would have observed the speed limit and braked appropriately.
Hussain has admitted a lesser charge of causing death by careless driving but denies the more serious offence. The trial continues.
