Brighton seafront murder: Iftekhar Khondaker denies seeing men

Iftekhar Khondaker claims that he did not see Suel Delgado and his friends in Marine Parade in Brighton when he ran them over as they walked away.

Suel Delgado suffered devastating injuries and died in hospital the next day. He was aged 20.

Azaan Khan and Raja Zakir Khan, both now 23, suffered life-changing injuries during the incident at 5.30am on December 1, 2019.

Khondaker, 34, is accused of murder and attempted murder over the incident.

Suel Delgado was killed in the alleged hit and run in Marine Parade, Brighton

He had been out with his brother Irfan, 27, and Umesh Ravinthan when the groups clashed and fought with belts along Brighton seafront.

At Hove Crown Court Khondaker said he was over the drink-drive limit and wanted to leave the area as fast as he could. He accepts he drove dangerously.

Read more on this story:

• Iftekhar Khondaker was previously jailed for previously driving a car at victim

• 'I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy' - Horror crash survivor speaks out

• RECAP full details of prosecution case against Iftekhar Khondaker given in court

• Suel Delgado mowed down 'deliberately' in Brighton seafront hit and run - court told

He said: “I was bleeding heavily. There was blood all over my face, my jeans and my jacket. Panic mode kicked in. My panic level went through the roof at this time.”

Khondaker said he suddenly saw an Audi ahead of him in the road, and overtook it, accelerating. Next he collided with the group of five. He said: “I heard and felt a big thud.”

There was no evidence he had attempted to brake, and he told the jury that he thought something had been thrown at the BMW.

The vehicle driven by Iftekhar Khondaker that led to the death of Suel Delgado in Brighton. Khondaker denies driving at a group of men deliberately in order to kill them

The car was later abandoned in Middle Street, Brighton, and Irfan is accused of calling an Uber car to take his brother away from the scene.

Khondaker said: “My brother jumped out of the car and told me ‘bro, the front of the car is f*****’ basically. I couldn’t drive this car dad’s going to be p***** off.

“That’s when I’m thinking, ‘did I hit someone? What’s happened? I don’t know’.”

Tyrone Gregory Smith, defending, asked: “Did you mean to kill or seriously hurt anyone?”

The scene in Brighton after the incident in Marine Parade where Suel Delgado was killed in a suspected hit and run

Khondaker said: “No, sir. To be honest with you, I’m utterly ashamed with myself to be honest, that I have caused this, that I am responsible for this.

“Poor Suel Delgado lost his life, he was such a young boy with the rest of his life ahead of him, and his friends have suffered.

“It was never my intention to hurt anyone, I simply wanted to get away, that is all I wanted to do.

“It is very regrettable. I can only try to imagine what the family may be going through. My deepest sorrow and sympathy go out to him and the victim’s families.”

The scene in Brighton after the incident in Marine Parade where Suel Delgado was killed in a suspected hit and run

Khondaker, of Caithness Road, Mitcham, was previously jailed in 2014 for inflicting grievous bodily harm by driving a car at a victim. He denies murder and attempted murder. His brother Irfan denies assisting an offender.

Kate Lumsdon QC, prosecuting, cross examined him over the horror crash.

“Why did you not turn around and drive the other way?” Ms Lumsdon asked.

“I couldn’t tell you that, I have no idea,” Khondaker replied, adding: “I wish it had been facing the other way, I would have sped off and poor Suel Delgado would not have lost his life.”

The scene in Brighton seafront after Suel Delgado, Azaan Khan and Raja Zakir Khan were struck by a vehicle in Brighton seafront

Ms Lumdson said: “I suggest the reason you put your foot to the floor of the car was to see if you could catch up with them.”

Khondaker replied: “Utterly incorrect. I wanted to get away as soon as possible and as fast as possible.”

She asked:”You cannot have been oblivious to the fact you had a man cartwheeling over your car, with one witness saying the man was practically sitting on the bonnet. Yet you just didn’t see it.”

Brighton seafront murder

“I don’t know... I knew an offence was committed because of the fight, but not because of the men in the road.”

Ms Lumsdon said: “I suggest that is a load of rubbish. As you set off in that car, the red mist had come down.

“You thought those boys had cut my face and you lost the plot. As you drove you could see them crossing and kept your foot down constantly on the accelerator and went straight into them, quite deliberately. It was effectively retribution, I would suggest.

Khondaker replied: “You are entitled to your view.”