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Brothers who were racing home guilty of killing man and seriously injuring son

Sarah EasedaleBBC Wales, Mold Crown Court
News imageBBC A composite image of the drivers. On the left, Photograph showing Umar Ben Yusaf, who wears a black two piece suit, a pale grey tie and white shirt. He has a bald head and a brown long haired beard. He is leaving Mold Crown Court and his jacket blows in the wind. Grass can be seen behind him, as well as boulders and bins. On the right, Photograph showing Abubakr Ben Yusaf, who wears a navy two piece suit, a blue tie and white shirt. He has brown long hair and a brown long haired beard. He is leaving Mold Crown Court and holds a blue folder under his left arm.BBC
Abubakr Ben Yusaf, right, and his brother Umar will be sentenced on July 27

Two brothers who were racing each other home have been found guilty of killing a father-of-two and seriously injuring his nine-year-old son.

Rhys Jenkins died at the scene of the crash near Welshpool in November 2024 while his nine-year-old son was airlifted to hospital when a BMW X3 driven by Abubakr Ben Yusaf hit their Toyota Yaris head on.

Abubakr Ben Yusaf was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving, while his brother Umar Ben Yusaf, who was behind him on the road in his own vehicle, was found guilty of causing death and serious injury by careless driving.

Carrie Jenkins said the loss of her husband had been "devastating".

News imageFamily photo Family photo taken as a selfie. An outdoor photo with a rock in the background. Rhys Jenkins is in the centre and front, Ioan is on the left, behind him is Gruff and at the back is Carrie Jenkins.Family photo
Father-of-two Rhys Jenkins was killed in the crash

The men, both locum optometrists, were driving from Aberystwyth to Manchester at the time of the crash.

Abubakr Ben Yusaf was also found guilty of causing death while driving uninsured.

Both had denied causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Umar Ben Yusaf was found not guilty of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

The court had heard the brothers were racing and trying to get ahead of each other on the stretch of road between Newtown and Welshpool.

Both remained impassive as the verdicts were read out. Judge Timothy Petts said the two would be disqualified from driving for a time period to be decided.

He remanded Abubakr Ben Yusaf in custody until sentencing on 27 July.

Umar Ben Yusaf was released on bail and will be sentenced at the same date, but the judge told him it was overwhelmingly likely he would be going will be going to prison given the seriousness of circumstances.

The two men embraced in the dock before Abubakr Ben Yusaf was taken down.

Following the verdict, Carrie Jenkins said her family was trying to rebuild their lives "as Rhys would have wanted", and "to make the most of each day" with the support of friends and the community.

She added: "I hope the publicity surrounding the case highlights the dangers of driving at speed, and acts as a reminder that we all have a responsibility when we get behind a wheel."

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