A minicab driver has been found not guilty of causing the death of a five-year-old boy after he told a court his electric car suddenly and inexplicably accelerated forward on its own.
The Tragic Incident in South London
The case centred on an incident that occurred on 25 November 2022 in Borough, south London. Ashenafei Demissie, 53, had collected his younger son from school and parked his leased Volkswagen ID.4 outside his home, waiting for a parking space.
Nearby, five-year-old Fareed Amir and Demissie's own 12-year-old son were playing. Demissie had just offered Fareed a lollipop when, he claimed, the vehicle suddenly jumped forward. It struck both boys before crashing into five parked cars.
Tragically, Fareed later died from his injuries. Demissie's son sustained multiple fractures to his lower legs. The collision was witnessed by both boys' mothers.
A Week-Long Trial and Conflicting Evidence
During a week-long trial at the Old Bailey, the prosecution argued that Demissie had accidentally pressed the accelerator pedal. A Metropolitan Police collision investigator, Mark Still, told the court he believed the cause was "pedal misapplication" and that he found no evidence of a technical fault with the vehicle's steering, brakes, or acceleration systems.
However, under cross-examination, Mr Still conceded he was not a computer expert or software engineer. Demissie maintained his innocence throughout, telling jurors: "Never. I didn't touch it," when asked if he pressed the accelerator.
He described the event as "just like a moment of madness" and suggested the car may have moved because Fareed triggered a sensor.
Verdict and Unanswered Questions
After five hours of deliberation, the jury found Ashenafei Demissie not guilty of causing death and serious injury by careless driving. The court was not made aware that, following publicity around the case, around a dozen electric vehicle owners had contacted legal teams with similar concerns about their cars, including several who drove the same Volkswagen ID.4 model.
Judge Alexia Durran KC thanked Fareed's family for their dignity throughout the proceedings. The Independent has contacted Volkswagen for comment on the case and the claims of a potential software fault.
