Speeding driver who killed daughter of Ecuadorian politician jailed for 10 years

A speeding Mercedes driver killed the “exceptional” daughter of an Ecuadorian politician as she crossed the road with her fiancé.

Octavian Cadar, 39, drove towards Vanessa Sagnay de la Bastida, known as Charlotte, and Michael Williams at 55mph in a 20mph zone as they walked home near Wandsworth Bridge in west London.

The sound of his roaring engine caused the couple to panic and separate as they fled.

Ms Sagnay, 27, was hit before she reached the pavement, causing her to somersault in the air and land on a railing and sign post. She suffered a catastrophic head injury and died at the scene.

She was the daughter of Carlos Sagnay de la Bastida, a presidential candidate in the Ecuadorian elections of 2006. His party was the Alfarista Radical Front, a liberal party founded in 1972.

Cadar, of Bexley, south-east London, had accused the couple of causing the collision by “messing about in the road”, only admitting later to jurors that was wrong.

He also claimed he was trying to avoid them but the court was told that the accident would not have happened if he had not been speeding.

A jury deliberated for 42 minutes to find him guilty of causing the psychologist’s death by dangerous driving on March 16 2022.

Cadar was jailed for 10 years and disqualified from driving for 10 years and eight months.

In 2018, he had been convicted of speeding, fined and given six penalty points at Bromley magistrates’ court.

Speaking at his sentencing on Thursday, Mr Williams, who was studying for a PhD at University College London, said: “Cadar valued speeding in a sports car more than our lives. Afterwards, he reacted with anger and blame.

“My life with Charlotte was wonderful, she was the best friend I ever had. She was half of me. I am less than a person without her.”

On the day of her death, they had been finalising details of their wedding, he said: “Charlotte never got to hear what I wrote in my wedding vows. Instead, I read them at her funeral.”

Jeanne Sagnay de la Bastida, Charlotte’s mother, spoke of her pride at her daughter’s academic success at St Andrew’s University. Charlotte had achieved two Masters degrees and was about to embark on a PhD.

Weeping, she told the court: “My daughter was, is and always will be my life, my everything and my everyone.

“I have experienced such pride in my beautiful child.

“Now that she is no longer about to live the life she was nurtured for, studied for ... I have become an empty vessel.”

Judge Anuja Dhir KC told Cadar: “Ms Sagnay de la Bastida was a 27-year-old woman who had her whole life ahead of her.

“The victim impact statements all spoke of her exceptional qualities as a daughter, a fiancée, a friend and as an accomplished psychologist and researcher. But you put an end to all of that.”

Describing the collision, Mr Williams said he realised he had been separated from Ms Sagnay because they were no longer holding hands.

He said: “She fell on the front of the car. She went on to a street sign. There was a loud bang. I screamed and I crossed the street. I tried to call the ambulance.

“I was on the phone to the emergency services and that is when the driver of the car came out.

“He was shouting. He was angry and he was saying, ‘Why did you freeze? Why didn’t you keep walking?’ I said to him, ‘Because we were terrified.’”