A recovery truck driver accused of murdering his teenage girlfriend in Oldbury has been described by the prosecution as 'acting' and giving a 'false account' to evade responsibility for her death. Mohammed Azim, 41, of Tividale Road, Tipton, denies the murder of Lily Whitehouse, who died on 5th November last year.
During closing speeches to the jury, prosecution counsel Rachel Brand KC alleged that Azim crushed Ms Whitehouse against a lamp-post in Old Park Lane, Oldbury. Ms Brand contended that Azim must have intended to cause serious injury at the very least, given the circumstances of the alleged incident. She further accused him of 'acting' in the immediate aftermath of her death, suggesting he created a fabricated narrative to cover his actions.
The court heard that after Ms Whitehouse was injured, Azim allegedly placed her in his truck before dialling 999. He reportedly told emergency operators that she had been struck by another vehicle that failed to stop. However, when later interviewed by detectives, Azim claimed he had no memory of the event. Ms Brand asserted that he had not forgotten but knew 'very well from the moment it happened what he had done'.
In his own evidence, Azim admitted to lying about the hit-and-run, stating he panicked. He claimed he accidentally hit Ms Whitehouse with his truck as he attempted to leave after dropping her off near her home. The prosecutor dismissed this revised account, urging the jury to 'see through his act' and reject the claim of an accident, instead finding him guilty of murder.
Conversely, defence barrister Imran Shafi KC argued that if Azim had intended to seriously injure or kill Ms Whitehouse, he would not have called the emergency services. Mr Shafi portrayed his client as a 'calm and kind man' who had tried to help his girlfriend when others would not. He urged the jury to 'strip away emotion' and focus solely on the evidence, suggesting that this was either a case of manslaughter or a 'pure accident', with 'absolutely zero' evidence of intent to cause serious injury or death.
The trial continues, with the jury expected to retire to begin their deliberations following the judge, Mr Justice Murray's, summary of the evidence presented.