The drivers of a BMW and Audi are both guilty of killing a mother and young daughter after meeting by chance and showing off their powerful cars, a court has ruled.

Jasskamal Riyat, 37, of Moortown, Leeds, was today found guilty by a jury of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, despite not being the driver who fatally struck the pair.

Justyna Hulboj, 27, and four-year-old Lena Czepczor were hit by the Audi as they walked to nursery on the pavement on Scott Hall Road in Leeds, West Yorkshire, on January 16, 2023. 

Footage shown to the court pictures a powerful black BMW driven by Riyat and an Audi TT driven by Hardeep Bhachu, 29, of Adel, travelling together in Leeds, West Yorkshire that morning.

Bhachu previously admitted committing the same offences after he lost control of his vehicle, mounted a kerb and hit and killed the mother and daughter at around 8.30am.

Riyat had denied racing Bhachu, who he had only met that morning, and insisted he did not cause the fatal collision.

But he was convicted at Leeds Crown Court despite his own car not crashing.

The pair were caught on camera revving their engines alongside each other and speeding off into the distance.

Dashcam video from Bhachu’s Audi then captures the drivers speaking to each other through their windows, as they appeared to congratulate each other on the power of their motors.

Footage shown to the court pictures a powerful black BMW driven by Jasskamal Riyat, 37, and an Audi TT driven by Hardeep Bhachu travelling together in Leeds, West Yorkshire

Riyat was driving a black BMW 135i when he met Bhachu by chance on his way to work

Justyna Hulboj, 27, and four-year-old Lena Czepczor, were killed in the collision while on their way to nursery 

Hardeep Bhachu, 29, of Adel, Leeds, previously pleaded guilty to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving after being behind the wheel of the car which fatally struck the pair

Riyat has now also been convicted of two counts of causing death by dangerous driving

Another clip, filmed by Riyat on his mobile phone, shows the Audi ahead of him before accelerating away.

Riyat can be heard saying: ‘Watch this guy now’ before laughing as the Audi vanishes into the distance.

The compilation, released by West Yorkshire Police, also includes dashcam footage from Bhachu’s car in the final seconds before the collision, with the Audi appearing to be travelling at speed as its engine roars.

A short time later Bhachu would lose control, strike Ms Hulboj and her daughter and plough into a car dealership building. He received hospital treatment for his injuries. 

Giving evidence in his own defence this week, Riyat told jurors: ‘I was not racing with Bhachu. I was not trying to race at any point.’

He later added: ‘I genuinely did not cause this. I’m not responsible for how he drove.’

Riyat said he did not know Bhachu before that morning and described their encounter as a ‘chance meeting’.

The pair pulled alongside each other at traffic lights shortly before the fatal crash, where the court heard Bhachu boasted that his Audi TT had 560 BHP.

They appeared to laugh before driving off.

Although Riyat did not crash his car, prosecutors said he is equally responsible for the crash

Police at the scene of the crash which killed two pedestrians on Scott Hall Road, Leeds 

Riyat admitted during his evidence that he had been travelling at up to 50mph in the 40mph zone, had illegally used his mobile phone while driving and had undertaken other vehicles

Various footage showed the two cars side by side in the minutes leading up to the fatal crash

Flowers and teddy bears at the scene of the fatal crash in 2023

Riyat told the court he took out his mobile phone to film the Audi because it was a rare and powerful car of the kind you would ‘usually see on Top Gear’.

He had previously told police he filmed it because he thought the Audi driver was ‘going to do something stupid’.

Riyat admitted during his evidence that he had been travelling at up to 50mph in the 40mph zone, had illegally used his mobile phone while driving and had undertaken other vehicles.

But he denied that his driving was dangerous and maintained that he remained in control of his BMW throughout.

During cross-examination, prosecutor Carmel Pearson played dashcam footage from a vehicle travelling behind the two cars.

It showed the BMW and Audi alongside each other at traffic lights before Riyat’s BMW pulled away more quickly.

The Audi then appeared to accelerate and catch up with it.

The vehicle carrying the dashcam was said to be travelling at around 47mph, while the BMW and Audi accelerated away and almost disappeared from view.

Asked why he had been speeding, the car company sales executive said he wanted to get to work for an 8.45am meeting.

Earlier in the trial, two independent witnesses gave evidence, with one describing the pair as ‘obviously racing’.

Riyat drove past the wrecked Audi and continued filming before carrying on to work.

Bhachu asked to be remanded in custody to ‘take responsibility’ and ‘begin serving the inevitable sentence’ after his guilty pleas.

Riyat was bailed following the verdict and is due back at court on October 26.

He was warned that it was ‘inevitable’ he faces a lengthy prison sentence.

A statement released through police from Ms Hulboj’s fiance and Lena’s father read: ‘Before 16 January 2023, my life was a fulfilment of my deepest dreams, I had everything that was most important in life. I had a good job, a wonderful fiancée, Justyna and a wonderful daughter, Lena.

‘Unfortunately, on the morning of January 16, when I said goodbye to my family with the words ‘I love you’, I didn’t know that it would be the last time I saw them.

‘When I was informed about their deaths, my whole world collapsed in one second.

‘Every day I feel a huge void after their departure, and I imagine what it would be like if they were still alive. We had so many plans and dreams and in one moment it all ended.

‘I know that I will have to live with the burden of losing the two most important people in my life for the rest of my life.

‘I would like to live normally again without all this, but I know that it is no longer possible, no one will bring back the lives of my fiancée and my daughter. This nightmare will last for the rest of my life.

‘My dream was to have a wonderful family, and I must say that it came true for a short while, but that was taken away from me on the 16th of January.

‘Unfortunately, all that remains are wonderful memories and a constant fight for the next day, which is not easy.’

Detective Inspector Paul Conroy, of West Yorkshire Police’s Major Collision Enquiry Team, said: ‘This was an absolutely horrifying collision that I know even shocked experienced collision investigators. 

‘An innocent mother and daughter who were simply making their way to school never made it there and tragically never made it home because of the selfish, reckless actions of these two men.

‘Bhachu and Riyat didn’t know each other. They were two men showing off their fast cars on a busy dual carriageway.

‘We have released a video which shows the moments leading up to this collision. It is upsetting to watch but I hope that it might make people think about their own driving and encourage conversations with friends and family. 

‘Ultimately, Bhachu thought he could drive at those speeds in his high-powered car, but he couldn’t, and his loss of control took two lives and ruined many more.

‘Riyat witnessed this collision but instead of stopping to check if those involved were okay, he left the scene. He denied his involvement but was convicted thanks to the extensive footage showing his speeding vehicle in the moments leading up to the collision.

‘I would like to take this opportunity to thank the many people who came forward to provide dashcam and CCTV footage which helped us to demonstrate the dangerous nature of both Bhachu and Riyat’s driving that morning.’