Mercedes driver who killed Ecuadorian politician's graduate daughter as she crossed the road tried to move her body and shouted 'why did you freeze?', court told

A speeding Mercedes driver was travelling more than double the speed limit when he hit and killed the daughter of an Ecuadorian politician while she was crossing the road, a court has heard.

Octavian Cadar, 39, collided with the 28-year-old Vanessa Charlotte Sagney de la Bastida near Wandsworth Bridge causing her to 'somersault' over a railing on 16 March 2022.

Cadar was on his way to see his girlfriend and was driving at more than double the speed limit, jurors heard.

He drove towards Ms Sagnay de la Bastida and her fiancé Michael Williams who were crossing the road. Mr Williams continued to run to the other side of the road but Ms Sagnay de la Bastida tried to turn round and return to the pavement when she was hit, the Old Bailey heard.

Cadar was driving at 48 mph just before impact, when the speed limit was 20mph. He began emergency braking just a tenth of a second before the collision, it was said. He denies causing death by dangerous driving but has admitted the lesser offence of causing death by careless driving.

Ms Sagnay de la Bastida, known as Charlotte, was the daughter of Ecuadorian politician Carlos Sagnay de la Bastida. Mr de la Bastida ran for president of Ecuador in 2006, although he only received around 13,400 votes.

Ms Sagnay de la Bastida studied psychology at the University of St Andrews and graduated with a master's degree from King's College London. She was employed by Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust as a research assistant within their Department of Psychology.

Prosecutor Amanda Hamilton said: 'There is no dispute that Mr Cadar was the driver of a silver Mercedes motorcar and his car collided with the deceased, who was known to everyone as Charlotte.

'Mr Cadar has already pleaded guilty to causing death by careless driving but the crown say the standard of Mr Cadar's driving wasn't careless, it fell far below that, it was dangerous.

'He was heading towards Wandsworth bridge and was going to go over to the north side of the river because he was heading to Fulham.

'Just before the entrance to the road there is a round sign that says 20mph.

'Walking along that road was Vanessa Charlotte Sagnay de la Bastida.

'She was aged 28 at the time and her and her fiancé Michael Williams were heading home from lunch.

'Both live in London and had been living there for some time.

'At about 10.06pm as they came up to some traffic lights Mr Williams pressed the button then looked to the right and the road was clear.

'He started crossing towards the central reservation. As they were crossing Mr Cadar drove his Mercedes off the roundabout at speed.

'They heard the car coming and Mr Williams ran on continuing with their journey while Charlotte ran back to the pavement she had just left and the Mercedes vehicle struck her.

'Mr Williams told police he saw Charlotte hit on her left hand side by the bonnet of the car and he watched as she was thrown forwards over a railing and he believed she hit the street sign.

'He heard a scream and then saw her land on the ground.'

An eyewitness said he heard 'revving sounds' he associated with a 'speeding vehicle' and then saw the Mercedes heading north and heard a loud thud.

Ms Hamilton said: 'He saw a person somersaulting twice in the air and then he heard another thud.'

He then saw Mr Williams run over to her and scream 'what have you done?', the court heard.

Cadar got out of his car and said 'I didn't see', the court heard.

He then approached Mr Williams and shouted 'why did you freeze, why didn't you keep walking?', jurors were told.

Cadar tried to move Ms Sagnay de la Bastida but Mr Williams screamed at him not to touch her, jurors heard.

An off-duty doctor began to give CPR to Ms Sagnay de la Bastida but she was clearly dead.

Paramedics attended and her life was pronounced extinct at 10.19pm due to head injuries.

Roadside alcohol and drugs tests found that Cadar was not under the influence, the court heard. He suggested to police that the couple had been 'messing around' and stopped in the road.

Cadar said he would have lost control if he had attempted to break so he tried to swerve round the couple but the woman 'ran across the road and jumped in the air.'

He said he believed the speed limit was 30mph and he was just under the limit.

Three members of Ms Sagnay de la Bastida's family were in court today. Her mother became distressed and sobbed after she heard that Cadar had touched her daughter and the jury was asked to leave court.

Bearded Cadar appeared in the dock in a grey suit. Cadar, of Clydesdale Way, Belvedere, southeast London, denies causing death by dangerous driving.He admits causing death by careless driving.

The trial continues.