Afghan Uber driver who ran over and killed customer who had been sick in his car is jailed for five years after being cleared of murder

Uber driver Hayadulla Turkmani, 53, has been jailed for five years after his car struck and killed passenger Paul Ashton, 28, outside Ashton’s home in Basildon. A jury cleared Turkmani of murder and manslaughter but convicted him of causing death by dangerous driving, making the case turn on his driving and whether he intended to hit Ashton.

The incident followed an argument after Ashton vomited a small amount on the car seat and tried to clean it. The judge said Turkmani was the aggressor and should have seen Ashton in the road, describing his driving as showing complete disregard for the danger. Turkmani must serve half his sentence in prison and has been banned from driving for seven and a half years; Ashton’s partner and mother described the loss of their planned future and the lasting impact on the family.