Driver ‘took at least 20 lines of cocaine’ before killing three-year-old girl

Belfast Telegraph - 17:52
A van driver took “at least 20 lines of cocaine” in the hours before he hit a tram and then collided with a three-year-old girl on a city centre pavement, a court has heard.

Louisa Palmisano, known as Lulu, died in hospital from her injuries after she was struck while walking with her parents on a family visit to Manchester on February 22.

On Tuesday, Rawal Rehman, 35, of Lambton Road, Manchester, pleaded guilty to causing her death by dangerous driving in his Mercedes Sprinter van.

Rehman left the scene of the collision in Mosley Street at about 10am before he was later arrested.

Prosecutor Rachel Shenton told Manchester Crown Court that Rehman had visited two massage parlours in the city in the early hours of February 22.

She added the defendant had taken “at least 20 lines of cocaine” in seven hours.

Judge Alan Conrad KC heard it would be the prosecution case ...
[Short citation of 8% of the original article]