A Bradford woman has been found guilty of causing her friend’s death by dangerous driving after reaching speeds of up to 143mph in a Lamborghini on the M62.
Humaira Batool, 26, from the Bankfoot area of Bradford, was convicted at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday of causing the death of 20-year-old Mohammed Shaan Hussain.
She will be sentenced on November 2.
The court heard that Batool had taken a turn driving the hired Lamborghini Urus during the early hours of December 21, 2022.
During the journey, the powerful supercar reached speeds of up to 143mph.
At around 4.20am, while travelling westbound between junctions 22 and 23 of the M62 in wet conditions, the Lamborghini went out of control.
It struck a barrier, flipped over and caught fire.
Mr Hussain suffered fatal injuries and died in the wreckage.
Batool escaped from the vehicle and was found by emergency services suffering serious injuries, including significant injuries to her leg.
Jury Rejects Batool’s Defence
During the trial, Batool denied causing death by dangerous driving and claimed Mr Hussain had interfered with controls inside the Lamborghini shortly before it accelerated.
She told jurors that Mr Hussain repeatedly pressed buttons after saying: “Watch this, watch this”, causing the vehicle to “surge” while she was behind the wheel.
A Lamborghini representative who gave evidence at the trial told the jury there was no button, lever or other control inside the Urus capable of causing the kind of acceleration Batool described.
The prosecution argued that the only reason for the Lamborghini accelerating to such speeds was Batool pressing the accelerator.
Jurors ultimately found her guilty of causing Mr Hussain’s death by dangerous driving.
Video Showed Batool Taking Driver’s Seat
The trial also heard that Batool had initially told police she had been asleep in the passenger seat and woke when the Lamborghini rolled.
However, video footage shown to the jury captured Batool leaving the passenger seat at traffic lights in Bradford, walking around the vehicle and getting into the driver’s seat.
Mr Hussain had initially been driving.
Prosecutor Christopher Dunn told jurors that Batool had remained “entirely shtum” about the change of driver until she was confronted with video evidence showing she had taken the wheel.
The prosecution said Batool drove at “grossly excessive speeds” in dark and wet conditions.
Lamborghini Reached Up To 143mph
Evidence presented during the trial showed the Lamborghini repeatedly travelling at more than 100mph.
At its fastest, the vehicle reached approximately 143mph more than twice the 70mph motorway speed limit.
Shortly before the crash, it was travelling at around 120mph as it passed Stott Hall Farm, the landmark property commonly known as the “house in the middle of the motorway”.
The Lamborghini then left the carriageway, struck a barrier, overturned and burst into flames.
Other motorists attempted to reach Mr Hussain but were forced back by the fire and an explosion.
Police: Batool ‘Responsible For Her Own Actions’
A full investigation into the collision was carried out by West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team.
Batool was subsequently arrested and charged in January 2024 with causing death by dangerous driving.
Detective Inspector Paul Conroy, from the Major Collision Enquiry Team, welcomed the jury’s verdict.
“We welcome the verdict of the jury in today finding Batool guilty of causing death by dangerous driving,” he said.
“We always maintained she was responsible for her own actions in choosing to drive the car to speeds up to double the speed limit, and she must now answer for the incredibly dangerous driving she demonstrated on that night.”
Batool will return to Leeds Crown Court for sentencing on November 2.
