An Uber driver has been found not guilty of murdering a passenger who vomited in his vehicle, but convicted of causing death by dangerous driving. BBC News reported that Hayadulla Turkmani, 53, struck Michael Ashton, 28, moments after dropping him and his partner outside their home in Langdon Hills, Essex. Turkmani is scheduled to be sentenced on Wednesday, though Yahoo News indicated the sentencing date had not yet been formally fixed in the latest report.
The incident occurred on 26 September 2025 after the couple had spent the evening dining and drinking at Frankie's Wine Bar in Hornchurch. Prosecutors contended that Turkmani deliberately ran over Ashton in anger following the passenger becoming ill in his Toyota Prius during the journey home.
Ashton's partner, Sophie Caroll, described fetching baby wipes after he vomited on himself as they were driven home. She said that moments later, she realised her partner was trapped beneath Turkmani's vehicle.
I was hysterical, screaming. I called the ambulance straight away,she told the court.
CCTV footage presented to the jury captured Ashton shouting
whoa, whoa, whoamoments after arriving at his residence, shortly before midnight. A neighbour, Ray Green, who witnessed the collision in Rosecroft Close, described seeing Turkmani's car strike Ashton at
incredible speed, dragging him beneath the vehicle before reversing and striking him a second time.
At that stage, I closed my curtains, and I said to myself 'What have I just witnessed?',Green recalled, before rushing to assist.
What injuries did Ashton sustain?
The collision caused severe injuries to Ashton's leg and brain. Ashton, who was employed by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council, died eight days after the incident without regaining consciousness.
What was Turkmani's defence?
Giving evidence at Basildon Crown Court, Turkmani admitted swearing at Ashton, which caused the passenger to turn around and begin
running towards me. The driver claimed he was
panicking and frightenedand denied seeing Ashton near his vehicle as he drove away. He maintained that he did not intentionally strike the passenger, contradicting the prosecution's assertion that the act was deliberate and motivated by anger over the vomiting incident.
How long did the jury take to reach their verdict?
According to Yahoo News, jurors deliberated for two-and-a-half days before reaching their verdict. The Echo reported that the jury consisted of seven men and five women.
What happens next?
Turkmani will be sentenced on Wednesday. The conviction for causing death by dangerous driving carries significant custodial penalties, though the exact sentence will be determined by the judge at the sentencing hearing.
