A bus driver who killed a nine-year-old girl cycling on the pavement has had his jail sentence increased from four years to six years and eight months. Martin Asolo-Ogugua, 24, was found to have almost three times the legal level of cannabis in his system when he fatally struck Ada Bicakci in Bexleyheath, south London.
Ada was travelling to a gymnastics class with her father and brother on August 3 last year when the collision occurred. She died two days later in hospital, with Asolo-Ogugua admitting causing death by dangerous driving and driving whilst unfit through drugs.
Court rules sentence too lenient
The Solicitor General referred the case to the Court of Appeal, arguing at Wednesday's hearing that the original sentence was "unduly lenient". Three senior judges agreed and increased the punishment, also imposing a five-year driving ban upon his release.
Lord Justice Dingemans said Asolo-Ogugua had "acknowledged that he had destroyed his victim's family, and his own" but had "disregarded the risk of danger to others for the period that he was driving". The judge added: "He must have appreciated that he was in no fit state to drive, but continued to drive."
Driver showed signs of drowsiness
The court heard that Asolo-Ogugua worked as a bus driver for Arriva and had only returned home from a social event at around 6.30am on the morning of the crash. He left the depot in Dartford at around 8.45am driving a double-decker bus.
CCTV footage from the cab showed him "yawning repeatedly, appearing drowsy, his eyes appeared to close on occasion" over approximately 13 minutes. Other road users noted his vehicle was being driven erratically before the collision.
Bus drifted across road
Asolo-Ogugua then appeared to fall asleep for "up to 15 seconds", with the bus drifting across Watling Street and striking Ada. He was arrested at the scene and admitted both offences in April this year at Woolwich Crown Court.
Peter Ratliff, appearing for the Solicitor General, said there was "a lack of attention to driving for a substantial period of time" and driving "when deprived of adequate sleep". He acknowledged that Asolo-Ogugua "made efforts to seek assistance for the victim" and had "demonstrated clear remorse".
Defence calls case a tragedy
Gregory Fishwick, representing Asolo-Ogugua, described the case as a "tragedy" and argued that whilst the sentence "might be classified as lenient", it was "not unduly so". He told the court: "He will never forget this. It was a tragedy, one that he will feel forever."
Asolo-Ogugua watched the proceedings via video link from HMP Isis in south London, with his mother attending court in person.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
