Met PC denies charge over pregnant woman's death

A Metropolitan Police officer accused of causing the death of a pregnant woman by dangerous driving has denied the charge.

Mariam Ahmed, 38, died after her Volkswagen Polo was involved in a high-speed collision on Eltham Road in Eltham, south-east London, on 17 October 2024.

Her unborn child could not be saved.

PC Chris Johnson, 56, pleaded not guilty at the Old Bailey to causing her death by dangerous driving. Former PC Danny Tomkins, 35, denied dangerous driving before the crash took place.

The court heard that both officers, who were on duty in separate vehicles as part of a "pre-planned deployment", drove at more than 70mph in a 30mph zone and overtook traffic on the wrong side of the road for around 130m.

Johnson, who was driving the police vehicle involved in the collision, was allegedly travelling at about 50mph at the point of impact, prosecutor Louise Oakley KC said.

Tomkins, whose vehicle was not involved in the collision, overtook Ahmed at 78mph shortly before the crash, prosecutors say.

The charges followed an investigation by the Independent Office for Police Conduct after a mandatory referral from the Met Police.

Ahmed was travelling in the same direction on the same road as the officers and had indicated to turn off before the collision, prosecutors say.

The force has said Johnson is attached to the Met's Taskforce. Tomkins was attached to the same unit at the time of the crash, but has since left the police.

The two men have been granted unconditional bail and will next appear at the Old Bailey for a case management hearing on 8 January.

A trial date was set for 7 June.

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