Newport man jailed for killing two women in fatal M4 crash
The families have both described their 'agony' after their death in the crash near the Prince of Wales bridge on the 17th of July
Last updated 1st Dec 2023
A driver who was filmed driving at more than 100 miles an hour just minutes before a fatal crash near the Prince of Wales Bridge has been jailed for more than 19 years.
Back in July, 33-year-old Liam Slade fled the scene following the incident on the eastbound carriageway of the M4.
Slade was disqualified from driving at the time of the incident, when he was at the wheel of a VW Passat, which crashed into a Peugeot 207, which was carrying five people, who were all on their way back from a wedding in Cardiff.
Passengers Suad Ahmed, 68, and Saado Hussein, 58, died at the scene.
Three other people inside the Peugeot all needed hospital treatment.
One of them sustained neck fractures, while another broke five ribs and fractured a shoulder blade.
The family of Suad Ahmed said in a victim personal statement it was ‘impossible’ to summarise how the events of that day had impacted them, saying it was ‘torture’ not to hear from her each day.
They added: “This person who appears in court today has affected all of our family’s hearts in a way no one can imagine.
“It is complete agony to know that we have to live with this nightmare for the rest of our lives.”
Saado Hussein’s family described her death as a ‘gut-wrenching pain that will never go away’, adding the unavoidable consequence of not being able to quickly bury their mother in accordance with their faith made it all the harder still.
They added: “Our hearts are aching. And will ache forever.
“There’s nothing this court or anyone else can do to bring back mum.
“For us there will never be full justice. But we hope and pray that this driver is not in a position to cause anyone else the pain and never-ending heartbreak our family has had to endure.”
The crash happened at about 00:05 on July 17, and it closed the M4 for 'several hours', whilst emergency services worked on their recovery efforts at the scene.
Witnesses told police Slade had been seen to drive at high speed, estimated to be 100-120mph, and in a dangerous manner.
He was said to be weaving the Passat between vehicles and undertaking.
A video was found as police carried out their enquiries, recorded by the front seat passenger of the car Slade was driving.
Taken approximately four minutes before the crash, it shows the speedometer above 100mph.
Slade was arrested at his home address in Newport the day after the crash, and during police interview, he told officers he’d woken up to find multiple scratches on his face, legs and body and did not know where they had come from.
He pleaded guilty to two counts each of causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving while disqualified and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He also pleaded guilty to an unrelated offence of failing to comply with a serious crime prevention order.
His Honour Judge William Hart described Slade as ‘a man with a deplorable record with no regard to the law’, before handing him a custodial sentence of 19 years and eight months, which includes five years' extended licence.
Slade also received a driving disqualification of 19 years and nine months. He’ll have to pass an extended test too should he ever wish to regain his licence.
Officer in the case Dai Nicholas said: "What should have been a night of celebration, turned into a tragedy that months on is still hard to comprehend.
"Suad Ahmed and Saado Hussein were returning from a wedding when they were killed by the dangerous driving of Liam Slade. His actions left a further three people hurt, two of them seriously, and they are continuing to recover from the physical injuries sustained that night.
"Slade had been disqualified from driving in January for a drink-driving offence. He should never have been behind the wheel that night, let alone travelling at the reckless speed he was. He committed two of the most dangerous acts any motorist can do on the roads.
"Given the choice of calling for help for those he had harmed or protecting himself, he chose to run away.
"Even when he was arrested he still refused to own up to what he had done. His guilty pleas come in the face of irrefutable evidence about how dangerous his driving was.
"Our hearts go out to both families who have been left devastated by what unfolded on the M4 that night.
"They have shown incredible courage to prepare victim personal statements for the court and are grateful for the support they have shown to us throughout our enquiries."