Law graduate ran over and killed pedestrian, 51, after she pressed accelerator instead of the brake

A law graduate ran over and killed a pedestrian after she lost control of her BMW and pressed the accelerator instead of the brake, a court has heard.

Raveena Raizada, 23, had a passenger in the front seat when she careered over a mini roundabout and ploughed into Manjit Singh Khaira, 59, in west London on March 27 last year. 

The student initially told police she had to swerve Mr Khaira, who she claimed ‘was literally in the middle of the road’.

However, CCTV evidence revealed the pedestrian was walking along the pavement when she lost control of the car.

Raizadam who obtained a first-class degree in business and law at university, appeared at the Old Bailey on Tuesday to be sentenced having earlier pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving.

Raveena Raizada, 23, pictured outside the Old Bailey, where she was sentenced to a two-year community order for causing death by careless driving

Hayes Road in Southall, west London, where Mr Khaira, 59, was walking along a pavement when he was struck on March 27 last year

The court heard that Mr Khaira was walking along a pavement in Hayes Road, Southall, in the same direction as the 3 series BMW when he was struck.

Accident investigators found that Raizada had lost control of the car and pressed the wrong pedal, causing the BMW to accelerate towards Mr Khaira rather than braking.

There was no traffic other than the defendant’s vehicle and no pedestrians in the area, the court heard. 

Edward Franklin, prosecuting, told the court: ‘Our case is that this is a brief lapse of driving judgment comprising two if not three elements.

‘First of which is the initial loss of control, failure to apply the brakes and pedal confusion if that is what has occurred.

‘There was no reason at all that contributed to that loss of control other than driver error.’

Mr Franklin added that the defence was ‘aggravated by attempt to shift blame onto the deceased’.

Despite Raizada’s claim that she had to swerve to avoid the pedestrian, CCTV showed that ‘at no point does the deceased move into the road’.

She was said to be ‘in a complete state of shock’ following the collision and her passenger had to relay what had happened.

Marianna Pasteris, defending Raizada, said in mitigation that she ‘is of a very positive good character’ and has ‘great remorse’ about the incident.

She added that the fatal collision has also had a ‘very significant impact’ on Raizada, who is on anti-depressants and was unable to continue studying a Master’s degree.

Passing sentence, Judge Mark Dennis said: ‘This has plainly had a dramatic effect on the defendant mental health.

The Old Bailey (pictured) heard that the law graduate initially tried to pin the blame for the collision on the pedestrian

‘Cases such as this when the fault is at the lower level I find it to be a tragedy all around.

‘In what appears to CCTV imagery that time of night a deserted street, no traffic other than the defendant’s vehicle and no pedestrians in the area.

‘By a cruel twist of fate there was indeed one pedestrian and that was Mr Khaira who was walking along the pavement by the fencing heading in the same direction as the defendant came in her car. 

‘The car having come around a mini roundabout, just yards later it makes something of an abnormal movement. A split second later it would appear you Raizada tried to correct that change of line.

‘The car does tip out of control veering to the left off the carriageway onto the pavement and striking the unfortunate Mr Khaira.’

Raizada, of Brookwood Road, Hounslow, was sentenced to a two-year community order and 150 hours of unpaid work.

She was also handed a 12-month driving disqualification and, following its expiration, she must take re-test before she can drive again.