A 40-year-old man has been accused of murdering his 19-year-old girlfriend by crushing her against a lamppost with his van after she visited their baby in hospital. The tragic incident occurred on Bonfire Night last year in Oldbury, West Midlands.
Allegations in Court
Mohammed Azim, a recovery lorry driver from Tipton, appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court, where he denied murdering Lily Whitehouse. The prosecution alleges that Azim deliberately drove his Mercedes Sprinter van at Ms Whitehouse, pinning her against a lamppost on Old Park Lane, causing fatal injuries.
Prosecutor Rachel Brand KC told the jury that Ms Whitehouse had been visiting her baby, born in September 2025 and fathered by another man, at the neonatal intensive care unit of Russells Hall Hospital in Dudley. Azim picked her up after she disembarked a bus from the hospital. However, instead of driving her home, he drove past her address and onto Old Park Lane.
Ms Brand stated: "One of the things you will have to consider is why the defendant did that – why did he drive past if he was giving her a lift home, why not drop her off? We say the likelihood is the two were having an argument."
CCTV Evidence
CCTV footage from a nearby school captured audio of Azim's recovery truck idling for approximately 16 minutes before the vehicle came into view. Ms Whitehouse was seen walking briskly along the road on the driver's side. Ms Brand said: "The defendant is driving the truck as if he was nudging or pushing her along the road. Lily started running, the vehicle is pursuing her at a low speed but, nevertheless, we say he was clearly using that large, heavy vehicle as a weapon."
As the truck disappeared from view, a loud bang was heard, which the prosecution suggests was the truck striking a lamppost. Ms Brand added: "We believe she was crushed against a lamppost, perhaps with the driver's door of the truck open at the time."
Injuries and Aftermath
A Home Office pathologist found that Ms Whitehouse sustained injuries predominantly to her right side while upright, including a broken upper arm, fractured ribs, a lacerated liver, and traumatic chest injuries causing severe bleeding, leading to her death.
After the incident, Azim allegedly lifted Ms Whitehouse into his truck, dialled 999, and claimed he had witnessed her being struck by a vehicle that failed to stop. He parked his truck on Park Street and placed Ms Whitehouse on the pavement, appearing agitated when police and paramedics arrived. He told them they took too long and that she was gone. Police found his account strange, given he knew Ms Whitehouse.
Azim was arrested on suspicion of murder. In interview, he answered no comment to most questions about his relationship with Ms Whitehouse and how she came by her death.
Prosecution's Argument
Ms Brand argued: "The defendant may try to suggest she fell to the ground and he accidentally ran her over. We suggest that cannot be true considering the loud banging noise that is heard. That is the truck impacting with something hard, not the sound of a truck hitting a slightly built woman who was 5ft 3in and less than seven stone."
She emphasised that Azim chose to move Ms Whitehouse instead of simply calling emergency services, distancing himself from the scene. "Within minutes he was lying. To prove murder, we have to satisfy you that when the defendant caused those fatal injuries, he either intended to kill her or at the very least intended to cause her very serious injury."
Ms Brand concluded: "Actions speak louder than words. Regretting it afterwards is not a defence."
The trial, before High Court judge Mr Justice Murray, is expected to last two weeks and continues.
