Victims of A46 crash in Leicestershire died before car caught fire, post-mortems reveal

Two men killed in a car crash on the A46 in Leicestershire are said to have suffered "horrific" injuries, a jury has been told.

Saqib Hussain and Mohammed Hashim Ijazuddin, both 21, are said to have died instantly after their Skoda Fabia smashed into a tree before it caught fire.

A report by pathologist Dr Stuart Hamilton, read by prosecution barrister Daren Samat at Leicester Crown Court on Monday, revealed both bodies has been badly burned after the car went up in flames.

Mr Hussain's body had "extensive burns" and had been found "partially ejected" from the car.

The post-mortem also revealed the highly cause of Mr Hussain's death was an "almost complete traumatic amputation of the right leg".

Dr Hamilton added Mr Hussain did not suffer any smoke inhalation which concludes the 21-year-old would have likely died before the fire started.

Mr Ijazuddin's body, who was behind the steering wheel, suffered similar fatalities.

It was reported he had a combination of burns and no signs of smoke inhalation, suggesting he too was dead before his body was burned in the fire.

Dr Hamilton concluded the driver had died from injuries caused by the crash, however, acknowledged "the investigation was hampered by the burn injuries".

Toxicology tests found Mr Ijazuddin had "been exposed" to cannabis smoke before his death, however, it was not possible to say when he had smoked the drug or how much he had consumed.

The post-mortem examination results were revealed on the 13th day of the trial.

The two young men were driving on the A46 in Leicestershire when their car crashed in February 2022.

The crash led to the arrest of TikTok star Mahek Bukhari and seven others, including her mother.

Previously, Leicester Crown Court had been told how Mahek Bukhari's mother, Ansreen, had a three-year affair with Mr Hussain.

It is believed he was attempting to blackmail the family into handing him £2,000 in a bid to prevent him exposing the affair, with prosecutors alleging that an ambush was then arranged.

Prosecutors said this plan was part of efforts to steal Mr Hussain's phone to seize the images, with a meeting arranged in Hamilton.

However, Mr Hussan and Mr Ijazuddin, who was also 21, fled after realising it was a trap before they were killed in the collision.

The eight defendants, who all deny charges of murder and of manslaughter, are:

• Natasha Akhtar, (aged 22), of Alum Rock Road, Birmingham

• Ansreen Bukhari, (45), of George Eardley Close, Stoke

• Mahek Bukhari, (23), of George Eardley Close, Stoke

• Raees Jamal, (22), of Lingdale Close, Loughborough

• Rekan Karwan, (28), of Tomlin Road, Leicester

• Mohammed Patel, (20), of Braybrooke Road, Leicester

• Sanaf Gulammustafa, (22), of Littlemore Close, Crown Hills, Leicester

• Ammeer Jamal, (27), of Catherine Street, Belgrave, Leicester

The trial continues.