SHOCKING footage shows the moment a champagne-swilling trader killed a 12-year-old girl after he smashed his Bentley into the family car.
Edward Tully, aged 30, had been indulging in a lavish evening at the Proud Embankment cabaret bar in Victoria, central London, before tragically causing the death of a schoolgirl on August 20, 2022.
He splurged over £1,500 on four elaborate five-course meals paired with prosecco, in addition to acquiring five bottles of Veuve Clicquot Rose champagne. After this extravagant night out, he proceeded to drive home in his Bentley at a speed ranging between 56 and 60 miles per hour – which was twice the legal limit.
While Tully was drinking, a family four were out for dinner in Wembley before deciding to stop for ice cream at the Friern Barnet McDonald’s.
Despite clearly having had too much to drink, he hopped into his motor and jumped four red lights.
At a junction in Barnet, north London, Tully rashly attempted to overtake a vehicle waiting at a red light, resulting in a collision with the red Vauxhall Astra being operated by the girl’s mother. The Bentley then collided with a post on a traffic island.
He then fled on foot to his Princess Park Manor flat, where he called his dad to pick him up.
In a move described by the judge as “callous” and “cowardly”, Mr Tully was heard saying “I am not going to stay here, we must run right now”.
Despite trying to evade police, Tully was linked to the scene by DNA found on the driver side airbag.
The Bentley was registered to his family home, but police could find him neither there nor at his flat.
The 12-year-old girl was rushed to Royal London Hospital, but the damage to her lungs, liver, spine, brain, pelvis and arms were too severe and she died three days later.
Cowardly Tully, who admitted causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, was jailed for 12 years on Monday, and disqualified from driving for 13 years.
The vile driver blew a kiss to his mother and waved as he was he heard his sentence.
Her father suffered severe injuries including two fractures to his spine, which meant he appeared in court still wearing a neck brace.
He now struggles to turn his head, cross roads, or work at a desk.
Speaking in court, the heartbroken dad said: “There is no desire to live now without my princess. I have been destroyed and feel so helpless.
“I wish I could have stayed at home that evening. I do not know how or when I will be able to live this way all the time. Now there is just suffering and nothing else.”
‘LIFE COULD BE OVER NOW’
Although the girl’s mother and brother escaped without serious injuries, they have been mentally scarred.
The girl’s mother said: “Since this tragic day, we have been experiencing pain and suffering that we will have to endure until our last breath.
“Life felt so complete and we were content and happy with the progress we were making.
“I miss her so much, I miss her touch and her love. I miss everything about her.”
Her brother told the court: “I feel like life could be over now. Nothing I do is with emotion. I have just been living. I feel really angry my little sister did not get to do what she wanted to do and what she loved.”
Jocelyn Ledward, KC, prosecuting, told the court: “As a result of the impact, the Astra spun clockwise 460 degrees across the junction, coming to rest in the southbound carriageway towards the north-east corner of the junction, and then rolling backwards at slow speed into the pedestrian barrier.
“As it spun, both rear tyres mounted the raised pedestrian crossing in the centre of Colney Hatch Road on the north side of the junction.
“The girl was not conscious. She was not breathing and clearly very badly injured. Her mother and brother screamed for help, and members of the public including other drivers came to their assistance.
“Whilst an ambulance was called, one of them used his tools to cut the girl’s seatbelt, removed her from the car and began CPR.”
DRINK DRIVING COWARD
Referring to CCTV from Proud Embankment, she said: “The defendant can be seen drinking regularly and repeatedly, over 20 times at least, from glasses which have been refilled from the bottles, including by himself, throughout the two hours.”
Tully must serve two-thirds of his sentence before he is eligible for release, after which he is banned from driving for 13 years.
His lawyer, David Spens KC, said he was “genuinely and profoundly” remorseful.
The judge said Tully had been “impaired” by alcohol but added: “It is not known precisely how impaired by drink he was because he took the cowardly decision to flee the scene. He hit the family at excessive speed.
“The attitude of the defendant was ‘I am not going to stay here, we must run right now’, and he did.
“All the evidence points to significant consumption. The amount you spent speaks for itself, even in a group context.”
He added that those who had attempted to help Tully after the crash should “hang their heads in shame.”
