Doctor killed in car park a 'tragic accident'

A doctor was run over and killed by a van in a hospital car park in a "tragic accident caused by a terrible coming together of circumstances", a court has heard.

Dr Anjum Afshan, 62, was walking to catch a bus after work when the collision occurred outside Clayponds Rehabilitation Hospital in Ealing, west London, in January 2023.

The van's driver, Gulamo Remtula, denies causing death by careless driving.

The 58-year-old, of Harrow, north-west London, did not give evidence at his Old Bailey trial but his barrister told jurors he did not drive carelessly.

In her closing speech, Claire Mawer, defending, said: "I suggest on Mr Remtula's behalf that really the likely question for you is whether what happened on 12 January was in fact not an act of careless driving by Mr Remtula, but instead a tragic accident caused by a terrible coming together of circumstances that were far, far, from ideal.

"You may feel... a careful and competent driver may not have been able to avoid what happened to Dr Afshan. That is because Dr Afshan moved into Mr Remtula's blind spot in the briefest possible window of time."

She told jurors Mr Remtula had walked around the back of his van before getting into the driver's seat and then checked his mirrors before reversing.

He passed roadside tests after the collision and was not using his phone as he drove, Ms Mawer added.

"I suggest that all of this evidence bears the hallmark of someone driving carefully and competently," she said.

However, the prosecution alleges he is guilty because he "reversed through a car park without making adequate checks of his blind spot".

Dr Afshan was hit from behind and thrown forward by the impact but the van continued reversing and she was pinned by the rear axle, the court heard previously.

Her relatives left the court as CCTV footage of the incident was played at Remtula's trial on Wednesday.

The hospital was one of his regular drop-offs for food deliveries.

In his police interview he said he had seen Dr Afshan leave but then lost sight of her, the court heard.

He checked his mirrors before reversing but did not see any obstacles, and stopped the van after someone pointed out what had happened, jurors were told.

In the interview played in court, Mr Remtula said he was not driving fast, the vehicle was in good condition and nothing was affecting its handling.

Vehicles of the size of the van do not have to have cameras fitted or reversing alarms, the court has heard.

The trial continues.

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