A Mercedes driver who killed a woman in a 140mph crash on Christmas Day has been jailed, with the judge saying he had done “absolutely nothing” to help the victim’s family or police.
Evan Forde, of Bedford, was driving a black Mercedes when he crashed into the back of a BMW early on December 25 in 2022.
Maria Carolina Do Nascimento, 22, who was a passenger in the BMW, died at the scene in Brent Cross, north London.
The accident occurred on a 40mph stretch of Hendon Way at around 3.45am after Forde’s vehicle had reached speeds of more than 140mph, the Old Bailey heard.
On Wednesday, Forde, 32, was jailed for 12 years and disqualified from driving for 18 years, having previously admitted causing Ms Do Nascimento’s death by dangerous driving.
In mitigation, Tasmin Malcolm, for the defence, said Forde had displayed “true and genuine remorse”.
However, having heard the defendant had given two “no comment” interviews to police following the incident, Judge Philip Katz KC said of Forde: “He did absolutely nothing to assist the police. He did absolutely nothing to bring closure or understanding to the family.”
Sentencing, the judge said of Ms Do Nascimento: “The fact that her family and friends have had to wait nearly three years for Maria’s killer to be brought to justice is shameful.”
He noted that the defendant failed to assist the police investigation and said that Forde’s “unforthcoming attitude” had meant additional forensic work had to be undertaken.
Prosecutor Frederick Hookway said that video and CCTV from Forde’s phone, which had been found in the vehicle, showed he had attended a nightclub in Camden in the hours before the incident.
Mr Hookway told the court that Forde had 10 previous convictions for 14 offences, including dangerous driving and at the time of the incident, he was on bail, having been charged with failing to provide a specimen.
The court heard that shortly before the crash, police officers on patrol in a marked vehicle had indicated they wanted the defendant to stop the car.
But the vehicle drove off, and there was no pursuit.
Less than a minute later, the Mercedes had crashed into the BMW carrying Ms Do Nascimento, the prosecutor said.
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Video footage played to the court showed several people fleeing the Mercedes after the crash, as the vehicle appeared to be smoking.
The ambulance service attended but Ms Do Nascimento died at the scene.
In a victim impact statement read on her behalf by the prosecutor, Ms Do Nascimento’s mother Clezi Felizari said her daughter had a “generous heart” and “touched everyone around her”.
She said: “On Christmas morning, I received the worst news a mother can ever hear – my daughter had lost her life in a crash caused by recklessness.
“From that moment my life stopped.”
Ms Felizari added: “Riding in a car has become a torment because I relive the way Maria died.”
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Ms Do Nascimento’s step-father Clayton Felizari said it was “impossible to put into words the pain and emptiness” caused by her death.
The court heard that Ms Do Nascimento’s family had celebrated Christmas together that day at a restaurant owned by Mr Felizari.
“Since then, every Christmas has become a nightmare,” he said.
Forde appeared in the dock wearing a black short-sleeved top and spoke to confirm his identity.
He wiped his eyes with a tissue and waved to people in the public gallery after sentence was passed.
