CCTV footage capturing the instance where a teenager was reportedly propelled down a street by a truck moments before her alleged fatal crushing has been unveiled by law enforcement authorities.
Mohammed Azim, a 41-year-old recovery truck driver, is facing accusations of murdering his 19-year-old partner, Lily Whitehouse, with his vehicle in Oldbury on November 5 last year. During proceedings at Wolverhampton Crown Court, the defendant became emotional as he maintained that causing harm to her was never his intention.
The prosecution contends that Ms. Whitehouse sustained severe chest injuries when Azim purportedly utilized his truck as a weapon to trap her against a lamppost following a dispute. They argued that the footage suggests he was seen “nudging or pushing” Ms. Whitehouse with the truck.
Azim refutes the murder charges, asserting that the collision with Ms. Whitehouse was accidental after he dropped her off near her residence.
As he refuted claims of a confrontation between them on the evening of the incident, Azim, wiping his eyes in court, disclosed that he and Ms. Whitehouse had an intermittent relationship since 2023, which incidentally was his 41st birthday.
According to Azim, he picked up Ms. Whitehouse after she disembarked from a bus from Russells Hall Hospital, where she had visited her premature baby fathered by another man, in the neonatal intensive care unit. He mentioned that he was driving her to her home on Amber Drive, Oldbury.
Allegedly, Ms. Whitehouse requested to spend a few minutes with him before heading home. Consequently, Azim parked on Old Park Lane, a wider road suitable for his van, where they conversed and checked their phones.
In response to his defense counsel’s inquiry about any argument, Azim denied any altercation, stating that Ms. Whitehouse expressed a desire to accompany him instead of returning home.
Azim recounted an incident where Ms. Whitehouse impeded his departure by insisting on going with him, resulting in a struggle at the front of the van. He clarified that he attempted to maneuver around her but had to swerve due to parked cars, leading to the subsequent collision.
Subsequently, Azim placed Ms. Whitehouse in his vehicle and dialed emergency services while heading to the hospital due to his disbelief at the situation unfolding.
The trial is ongoing, with Azim emphasizing his lack of intent to harm Ms. Whitehouse and highlighting her reliance on him for support due to her limited social circle.
