Police have issued a warning to anyone providing shelter to a drink-driving father who killed his baby daughter in a crash and then fled before sentencing. Emmanuel Sakyi, 31, was found guilty of causing death by dangerous driving by a unanimous jury but failed to appear for his sentencing. He was jailed in absentia to 15 years’ imprisonment for killing his seven-month-old girl.
Fatal crash details
Emmanuela was sitting on her mother’s lap in the passenger seat when Sakyi swerved into the wrong lane while over twice the legal alcohol limit. She suffered serious injuries in the crash and later died in hospital. The collision occurred on Bletcham Way in Milton Keynes in December 2022. Sakyi fled the scene after colliding with an oncoming green Fiat 500.
Prosecutor Daren Samat said the defendant did not secure his daughter in a car seat or appropriate restraint, instead allowing her to be carried in the front seat by her mother. The court heard that Sakyi drove his grey Peugeot 508 'for a considerable distance on the wrong side of the road' before the crash.
Police appeal for information
'Nearly four years ago, seven-month-old Emmanuela lost her life because her father chose to drink drive,' Detective Inspector Justin Thomas of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit said. 'Emmanuel Sakyi should be behind bars. Instead, he remains at large.'
Thomas added: 'We have made an arrest and are continuing our inquiries to locate Sakyi, but we still need the public’s help. We are releasing the collision reconstruction footage and damage to Sakyi’s car today to demonstrate the catastrophic consequences of the choices he made that day. Emmanuela’s death was entirely preventable.'
Arrest of alleged accomplice
A 40-year-old woman from Milton Keynes was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of assisting an offender, Thames Valley Police (TVP) said. She has since been released under investigation while inquiries continue.
Sakyi's description: black man, medium build, black hair, brown eyes, around 5ft 3in tall. Police urge anyone who sees him not to approach but to call 999 immediately.
Mother sentenced
Emmanuela’s mother Ruth Oppong, 34, was sentenced to one year and nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, after being convicted of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and causing unnecessary suffering or injury to a child.
'We know there are people within the community who know where Sakyi is or have information that could help us find him,' DI Thomas said. 'I would urge anybody who is assisting him, harbouring him, or helping him evade justice to consider the seriousness of this case and do the right thing. Our determination to locate him has not diminished.'
