Woman in court accused of causing girl’s death
A WOMAN has appeared in court charged with causing the death of an 11year-old schoolgirl by dangerous driving.
Sobia Aftar, 33, of Taylor Street, Rochdale, appeared for a brief hearing at Manchester magistrates’ court.
Through an interpreter, Ms Aftar spoke only to confirm her name and address and did not enter a plea to a single count of causing Marianne Haboc’s death by dangerous driving.
Ms Aftar was arrested and charged after a fatal crash outside St Patrick’s RC Primary School, Rochdale, on October 1 last year. Police were called to Taylor Street to reports of a collision involving a Range Rover and a pedestrian.
Marianne, 11, a talented gymnast, was found seriously injured. Paramedics fought to save her but she died at the scene.
At yesterday’s hearing, District Judge James Hatton denied a bail application and remanded Ms Aftar in custody. The case has been sent to Manchester Crown Court for a hearing early next month.
In a heartbreaking tribute after her death last October, Marianne’s parents said in a statement: “Marianne, our beautiful daughter, was a natural-born leader that could motivate friends to unite and do the same together regard- less of age, race or belief. It was her own goal to be a top pupil of the year before leaving primary school. To achieve this, she had a little plan by coming to school early so she could meet more young pupils to play with and to improve her proactiveness and relationship to them and her teacher.”