A motorcyclist is facing jail after admitting killing an eight-year-old boy and badly injuring his father and brother in a crash as the family crossedthe road.
Nicholas Hopkins, 20, was unlicensed and driving a Yamaha Thundercat dangerously when he caused the fatal crash on February 19 in Plumstead.
Mustafa Ahmed, eight, was walking with his family to evening prayers when he was struck and killed by the motorbike.
His father Mohamed was left in an induced coma while Mustafa’s brother, Ahmed, 11, was also seriously hurt in the incident.
At Inner London crown court on Friday, Hopkins pleaded guilty to a series of criminal charges and faces a length jail term when he is sentenced in January.
He admitted causing death by dangerous driving, causing death by driving without a licence and while uninsured, two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, possession of cannabis, and racially or religiously aggravated intentional harassment.
Since the crash, Mustafa’s father has spoken publicly about how he was holding his son’s hand as they crossed the road towards Greenwich Islamic Centre in the moments before they were struck by Hopkins’ motorbike.
They were crossing at traffic lights at the time, and Mohamed was left in an induced coma while in need of surgery and extensive rehabilitation.
When he woke up after around two months, he struggled to remember details of the crash, he said.
In the wake of the crash, wellwishers held a vigil for Mustafa at the spot where he died in Plumstead Road.
“Mustafa was a happy, caring, compassionate young boy”, said local Labour Councillor Asli Mohammed.
“He loved making everybody in the room laugh.
“His favourite thing was playing on the trampoline in his garden and loved football too. He was an outdoor child, he loved his outdoor play time.
“His mother Hayfa, she is completely broken, but the overwhelming support and kind words she has received from the public has been some comfort to her.
“I am not just a councillor but a friend of hers and her beautiful family.”
Hopkins, who lives in Burrage Grove in Plumstead, appeared from HMP Thameside to enter the guilty pleas, and was remanded back into custody until sentencing on January 26 next year.
A previous hearing was told he suffers from mental health difficulties.
The court also heard how Hopkins was riding a motorbike too powerful for his licence at the time of the crash, and he had previously been caught driving without the appropriate licence.
