Guilty plea after woman killed in 140mph car crash

Maria Carolina Do Nascimento died at the scene after a high-speed car crash

A 32-year-old man has been warned he is likely to be jailed after he admitted killing a woman in a high-speed car crash in north London on Christmas Day 2022.

Evan Forde, from Bedford, was driving a black Mercedes car at speeds of up to 140pm on Hendon Way, Brent Cross, when he crashed into the back of a BMW.

Maria Carolina Do Nascimento, 22, a passenger in the BMW, died at the scene.

On Tuesday at the Old Bailey, Forde pleaded guilty to causing Ms Nascimento's death by dangerous driving.

The occupants of the Mercedes did not stop for police and fled the scene on foot, police said.

Prosecutor Frederick Hookway observed that small variations of the speeds involved in the case were unlikely to have an impact given the defendant had reached "top speeds of over 140mph".

Judge Anthony Leonard KC adjourned sentencing until 22 October and granted Forde continued conditional bail.

He told him: "You have pleaded guilty to a very serious charge. There was perhaps no option other than to do so given the state of the evidence.

"However, the fact you pleaded at this stage will be taken into account at sentencing.

"You must understand the most likely result - if not the inevitable result - will be you sent to prison."

No police pursuit

The crash happened on a 40mph (64kph) stretch of Hendon Way at around 03:45 GMT on 25 December 2022, after Forde's car had reached speeds of more than 140mph (225.3kph).

Shortly beforehand, police officers on patrol in a marked vehicle had indicated for Forde to stop.

However, the vehicle drove off from police and there was no pursuit, Scotland Yard had said.

A short time later police were informed the same car had been involved in a collision with another car.

Previously the Metropolitan Police said it had made a referral to the Independent Office for Police Conduct as is routine in such circumstances.