Police have been told not to test the patience of a family whose daughter was killed after being hit by a van near her university campus, as friends say justice still has not been served. The call came during a memorial held on what would have been the student's graduation day.
Aalia Mahomed, 20, died and three others were injured in the crash outside the King's College London (KCL) campus in the Strand, central London, on March 18. A 26-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and he remains on bail.
Family demands justice without delay
During Thursday's memorial, solicitor Trevor Sterling called for justice to be delivered to the family "without any further delay". He told the PA news agency: "It's been a day of mixed emotions. This was a day which was meant to be a day in the future, a day of celebration when Aalia was to receive her degree."
Sterling said there was frustration over the fact that no charges have been brought almost five months after the incident. He added: "We need to make sure that we achieve justice without delay, and that the right level of justice is achieved, the right charges are brought, and only then will the family be able to move forward."
Investigations continue five months on
The solicitor acknowledged the complexity of the case, saying: "We acknowledge that there are a number of people involved in this incident, a number of witnesses and many others that were injured, and of course, there were secondary investigations in terms of the vehicle, etc." He expressed hope that investigations have now concluded and that charges would be brought "in the imminent future".
Sterling warned: "The wheels of justice are slow, and inevitably there is frustration. The family and those affected have been patient. What we ask is that their patience isn't tested, and that we reach a conclusion as soon as possible."
Friend calls for accountability
Joseph Knight, 20, a physics student and friend of Mahomed who was there when she died, echoed the call for justice. He told PA: "Justice hasn't been served because an innocent, beautiful soul has passed for no reason whatsoever, somewhere she should have been safe, on a college campus, pedestrianised area, somewhere she loved."
Knight added: "So until who is responsible, and there is someone responsible, is brought to justice, then [it hasn't been served]." His words highlighted the ongoing pain felt by those who knew the student.
Memorial honours lost potential
At the memorial, Mahomed's younger brother, Zain Mahomed, unveiled a plaque underneath a cherry blossom planted in her memory. The inscription read: "In loving memory of our forever shining star, Aalia Mohamed. A beloved daughter, sister, philosopher, physicist and friend. November 4 2004 to March 18 2025."
Zain said: "My sister was amazing. She was really smart, lovely, funny. I wish I could say something nice about the ceremony today. I wish I could say I was happy to be here, but it's painful. She should have been the one out there getting that award."
Graduation ceremony honours student
About 40 friends, family members and people from KCL gathered to pay tribute to the student, who was also honoured earlier on Thursday at a graduation ceremony in the Royal Festival Hall on London's South Bank. Many were dressed in green, her favourite colour, and stood with their eyes closed or heads bowed during a minute's silence.
People took it in turns to walk up and look at the inscription in silence, and her mother, Samira Shafi, was given her honorary degree certificate, awarded posthumously. Rev Dr Ellen Clark-King, the dean of KCL, told the crowd: "We mourn today the potential of all that she would have become, her lost future, as well as the loss of all that she was."
The family has launched a campaign to build a high school in Malawi in honour of Aalia, to be called Be More Aalia.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
