Dangerous driver jailed for deaths of Ben Corfield and Liberty Charris in Oldbury
A dangerous driver has been sentenced to more than 13 years in prison for causing the deaths of teenagers Ben Corfield and Liberty Charris.
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Liberty Charris was just 16 years old when she died alongside Ben Corfield, aged 19, both from Dudley, on November 20, 2022.
The teenagers were killed when a blue Nissan Skyline hit several pedestrians who were gathered at an illegal street racing event on the A457 Oldbury Road near the junction with Crystal Drive in Oldbury, at around 11.30pm.
Two others were also seriously injured in the collision, with Ethan Kilburn suffering a fractured pelvis, foot and right arm while Ebonie Parkes was left with fractured ribs, hips, leg and shoulder and a collapsed lung.
Dhiya Al Maamoury, of Hobs Moat Road, Solihull, pleaded not guilty in March to two counts of causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
However, at Wolverhampton Crown Court in September, Al Maamoury changed his pleas and admitted causing the death of the two teenage friends and seriously injuring two others.
On Friday (November 8), the 56-year-old was sentenced to 13 and a half years in jail for each charge of death by dangerous driving, to run concurrently.
He was sentenced to 32 months in prison each count of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, also to run concurrently, and disqualified from driving for 14 years.
In a tribute issued by West Midlands Police at the time of their deaths in 2022, Mr Corfield's family described him as a "larger-than-life character" with a "huge heart that was made of gold".
In a separate tribute released after her death, Ms Charris' family described her as their "beautiful baby girl and sister", adding that her aim in life was to "make everyone happy".
An online fundraiser launched in the days following the tragic deaths of the teenagers raised thousands, with money raised for Ms Charris helping to give her a proper sendoff, and for Mr Corfield to allow his family to keep a keepsake of him – his car.
A balloon release was also held at Hydes Road football ground in Wednesbury shortly after Ms Charris' death, organised by Dudley Rangers United Football Club, a team she supported.
In December 2022, the funeral of Ms Charris took place and saw a large crowd of friends and family gather at Upper Gornal Pentecostal Church.
A service was held shortly after in January 2023 for Mr Corfield, at Holy Trinity Church in Wordsley, where mourners came together to pay their respects to the teenager.
