The Canterbury Crown Court recently sentenced a man in the drunk driving deaths of a scientist and her father who worked as a professor. It was determined that Nitesh Bissendary (30) was high on cocaine when he crashed his car into the father and daughter.
The Canterbury Crown Court Finds Kent Man Guilty In the Cocaine-Fueled Driving Death of Scientist Daughter and Professor Father
The incident occurred on August 10, 2022 when 81-year-old Yoram Hirshfeld, his 37-year-old daughter Noga Sella, son-in-law 40-year-old Omer Sella, and his two grandchildren were walking near a car park on Leopold Street at around 9:30 PM.
It was at that time that Bissendary’s Alfa Romero jumped the curb and collided into the family. Both Noga Sella and Yoram Hirshfeld died at the scene while Omer Sella suffered from a lacerated spleen. The Sella’s son suffered from minor injuries and shock while their daughter suffered from a severe head injury.
Bystanders recollected hearing “crushing noises and screaming” when the accident occurred. It was also mentioned that Bissendary returned to his car to get the rest of his cocaine while Sella was underneath it.
The 30-year-old denied causing the deaths and injuries by driving dangerously. His excuse was that the clutch was faulty and he became distracted while trying to lift it. He also said that he wasn’t returning for his cocaine but to switch off the ignition and that he fled the scene while panicked and didn’t know he’d hit anyone.
On top of that, he refused to give a blood sample because he said that he had a fear of needles. It’s wasn’t the best story and wasn’t going give his team much use in his defense. The prosecution’s case was that the whole thing was avoidable on Bissendary’s end.
Jurors thought the same and returned a guilty verdict after a little over four hours of deliberation. He stood trial on two counts of causing death by dangerous driving as well as two counts of causing serious injury by careless driving.
Prior to the trial, he pleaded guilty to two charges of causing death by careless driving, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, possession with intent to supply cocaine, and failing to provide a sample for analysis—all lesser charges.
Bissendary will be sentenced on a future date.
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