An Uber driver is on trial accused of deliberately running over and killing a passenger after the man became ill in his car, a court heard. The incident took place on the night of September 26, 2025, in Langdon Hills, Essex.

Hayadulla Turkmani, 53, allegedly used his vehicle as a weapon to fatally injure Michael Ashton, 28, who was a council worker in Barking & Dagenham. Ashton had been riding in Turkmani’s Toyota Prius with his partner when he became sick inside the car. After arriving at Ashton’s home, the couple briefly went inside to retrieve cleaning supplies to address the mess.

According to the prosecution, Turkmani reacted with extreme anger and chose to run Ashton over deliberately outside the residence. Andrew Jackson, representing the prosecution, said Turkmani continued to shout insults at Ashton while driving on him, despite Ashton's desperate pleas for him to stop.

Emergency services were called to the scene just before midnight. Ashton was taken to the Royal London Hospital in east London, where he succumbed to a severe brain injury on October 4, 2025.

Turkmani, who is from Hornchurch, denies charges of murder, manslaughter, and causing death by dangerous driving. The trial is ongoing.