Watch: Heartbreaking footage released of teens killed at Oldbury street racing event as fun-loving youngsters

Ben Corfield, aged 19, and Liberty Charris, who was 16-years-old, died when Dhiya Al-Maamoury behind the wheel of a Nissan Skyline crashed into a crowd of pedestrians standing on the pavement.

It happened on the evening of November 20, 2022, at an illegal street racing event organised along Oldbury Road, Oldbury.

Street racers were using the section of the Oldbury Road between traffic roundabouts with Spon Lane South and Rood End Road to perform circuits, West Midlands Police said.

Al-Maamoury, aged 56, was travelling at around 54 to 57mph on 40mph road, before losing control of the vehicle and veering off the carriageway, which was captured on camera.

Liberty and Ben were pronounced dead at the scene, while teenagers Ebonie Parkes and Ethan Kilburn were taken to hospital with life threatening and life changing injuries, which they are still recovering from now.

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 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) at Wolverhampton Crown Court, the 56-year-old was sentenced to 13 and a half years in jail.

Now, West Midlands Police has released old footage of Liberty Charris as a child, staging a 'radio show' in what appears to be her bedroom.

In the video, she says: "I love pretending I have my own radio show, doing the top 10 and finding out song lyrics.

"Later, I would like to interview Christian O'Connell after reading his new book 'Radio Boy'. But first, here is the ultimate 'haven't heard in ages', 'Happy Radio' by Edwin Starr, dance along." 

The fun-loving youngster then proceeds to dance along to the music. In other video footage, Ben Corfield can be seen cheerily singing along to music in the car. 

In a powerful victim impact statement read out in court, Liberty’s father described feeling "devastated" by her death.

He said: "Liberty had so much to live for and to give, she treated everyone and everything with love and kindness.

“The fact she is gone is devastating to me, her whole family and anyone else that had the pleasure of Liberty in their lives during her short life of sixteen years. Liberty will be forever remembered by so many.

“The family bond could not have been stronger and that is why the loss of Liberty is impacting us all so dramatically.”

Ben’s father, Damian, also explained his tragic loss in his victim impact statement, describing his son as a "caring" person who would do "anything to help anyone".

He said: "That night, November 20, the reason I lived for was taken away from me. My only son whom I cherished so deeply and loved beyond words was killed for nothing.

“The pain of losing a child is unbearable, it’s unimaginable heart tearing pain that’s with you every second of the day and night, it never goes away.”

Det Sgt Paul Hughes at the West Midlands Police Serious Collision Investigation Unit said: “Al-Maamoury has rightly been put behind bars for killing two young people and seriously injuring two others.

“Ben and Liberty were pedestrians on a pavement and should have been afforded some protection but due to Al-Maamoury’s dangerous driving their families have got to live with their loss forever. Our thoughts are with Liberty and Ben’s loved ones.”

Head of Roads Policing at the force, Supt Gareth Mason added: “Al-Maamoury was 54 years old which proves its no longer ‘boy racers’ who are driving dangerously and speeding on our roads.

“This case illustrates how dangerous street racing events are, and we are committed to doing everything we can to tackle these illegal meet ups.

“We have recently seen an injection of resources into roads policing at the force, with more staff, more vehicles and more technology.

“Under Operation Hercules we are making arrests, stinging tyres, revoking licenses and gaining intelligence about where street racing events regularly happen.

“However, we need the public’s help. If you have any dash cam or mobile phone footage of any street racing events or dangerous driving then please submit it to us.”