Jail for speeding driver who killed Indian-origin man in UK

London: A 25-year-old thrill-seeker has been jailed for nearly five years for killing an Indian-origin man while speeding down a prohibited lane in London earlier this year.

Usman Anwar, believed to be of Pakistani origin, was sentenced to four years and eight months at the Old Bailey court in London yesterday for running over 55-year-old Parmjit Singh Karir as he crossed a road in East Ham area of east
London.

"This was a very bad case, you were speeding in a built up and busy area, you were using a prohibited bus lane under taking vehicles. I do take into account as I must your guilty plea, you've acknowledged what you've done publicly and before the grieving family of Mr Karir," Judge Rebecca Poulet told Anwar, who had pleaded guilty to death by dangerous driving.

Mr Karir had moved to the UK from India in 1975 and had worked for British Telecom for almost 35 years. He was also well known in his community as a charity volunteer.

On the fateful day of the incident on January 19, he had been on his way to the gym at the time of the crash.

Anwar was illegally using the bus lane and speeding at 90 kmh in a 48-kmh speed limit zone, leaving little time to slam on the brakes before striking Mr Karir.

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay said Anwar's car, hired from a friend 24 hours earlier, was fitted with a tracker which showed he had regularly broken the speed limit while driving it around London.

Mr Karir's eldest son, Kuljit, told the court about his father "He was a man of the people - in an age where no one has time for anyone, he always had time for people. He gave guidance, a shoulder to cry on, or just an ear for listening. Everyone knew dad was the man to go to".