05 October 2023 , 14:20
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A road menace who killed a 17-year old girl in a 98mph smash whilst filming himself inhaling laughing gas posted a series of boastful videos on Snapchat in the aftermath.
University graduate Rohail Jillani, 25, has made several keep fit uploads detailing his own recovery and declaring: "I'm on a mission for greatness." He left his front seat passenger Nadia Yusuf with fatal multiple injuries after he passed out under the effects of the fumes and ploughed his Mercedes A180 into a railway bridge.
Inquiries revealed he had been 'showing off' to his passengers in the moments before the accident and had taken both hands off the wheel whilst police found the incriminating film of him taking nitrous oxide for Snapchat. But despite expressing "real sorrow" over Nadia's death, Jillani subsequently posted a series of videos on Tiktok showing off in the gym, flexing his muscles and bragging of being on the road to recovery as he awaited sentence for causing death by dangerous driving.
Rohail Jillani filmed himself driving at almost 100mph moments before a fatal crash (Greater Manchester Police / SWNS)One accompanying caption read: "Ups and downs but when you have a purpose then there's no limit to greatness" whilst another added: " Survivor. Determined. Focused. On a mission to be the best I can be. Do it cos the angels are watching." The videos which emerged this week after he was jailed for eight years and eight months were met with disgust by fellow TikTok users on Thursday (October 5).
The footage was posted on Snapchat (Greater Manchester Police)One said: "No remorse - making this all about himself" whilst another called Roo said: "You didn't earn Jack. You literally killed someone whilst driving & doing balloons. You're here playing victim." A third Tiktoker called mmmx posted: "Lucky u didnt have the same fate as that 17 yr old." In the moments before the horror crash on the Mancunian Way in Manchester at 11.30pm on January 10 last year, Jillani had been filming a clip on Snapchat with one hand, and inhaling balloons filled with nitrous oxide with the other.
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Jillani posted boastful Snapchats after the crash (Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
He showed off his fitness with captions like 'I'm coming' (Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)Witnesses also described Jillani undertaking other slower moving vehicles and reaching speeds of 98mph. As he approached a nearside bend, he lost control of the vehicle, colliding with the offside safety barrier before spinning and striking the railway bridge at the junction of Temperance Street.
Inquiries revealed he had been 'showing off' to his passengers in the moments before the accident (Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
Witnesses also described Jillani undertaking other slower moving vehicles (Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)A man working near the scene of the accident at the time heard an 'extremely loud bang' and recalled it was so loud he thought that the railway arches had collapsed. He found Jillani conscious in the the wreckage, but 'dazed and confused', while Nadia and a fellow passenger were unconscious.
Nadia - who was apsiring to be a paediatrition - was pronounced dead in hospital two hours later whilst Shafi Sufi, 20, was left with a catalogue of serious injuries, and needs a hip replacement. Jillani, from Rusholme, Manchester, suffered a brain injury in the crash and claims he has no memory of the incident. On Wednesday at Manchester Crown Court, he was also banned from driving for nine years years which will take effect when he is freed.
Sentencing Judge Alan Conrad KC told him: "There is a degree of arrogance, selfishness and insensitivity about you still in the way you regard yourself, and in the tasteless way in which you have referred to Nadia online. You suggest that you meant well in your postings, but a moment's thought by you would have shown the hurt that you were causing. For that reason, I have difficulty in accepting that there is genuine remorse on your part."
Commenters criticised his posts (Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)
The judge said the way he described the victim was 'tasteless' (Cavendish Press (Manchester) Ltd)He added: "You had purchased nitrous oxide and you used the canisters to fill balloons from which you inhaled as you were driving. You then used a mobile phone to make a Snapchat recording of your driving, with the phone in one hand and inhaling the balloons with the other. At one stage you slumped onto the steering wheel causing the car to veer off to the left. The Snapchat recording later examined showed that you reach speeds of 98mph in a 40mph limited area."
"Nadia Yusuf lost her life in the collision caused by your driving. She was a young woman with everything to live for, whose life brought great joy to all. Her death has caused enormous grief to her loving family and friends. Her mother's health has suffered greatly as a result. You have devastated her family. Your other passenger, Shafi Sufi, sustained extremely serious injuries with lasting effects. Both Nadia and Shafi were younger than you and they placed their safety in your hands."
"I must make it clear that any sentence cannot in any way reflect the value of a human life, still less can it bring anybody back, nor can it alleviate any of the terrible suffering that your conduct has caused to a large number of people. The combination of your lack of control of the car caused by your not having your hands on the steering wheel, the effects of nitrous oxide, and the grossly excessive speed caused your car to collide into the viaduct.
A grab from Jillani's video showing his speedometer (Greater Manchester Police / SWNS)
(MEN MEDIA)"A motor car in the wrong hands is a deadly weapon, and it is unfortunately far too common for young men to drive in this way. It is hard to imagine a case in which culpability is higher. You had put yourself in a position where you had no control over the car due to your using your phone to record matters and inhaling nitrous oxide from a balloon, as well as driving your car ridiculously fast. You were showing off to your passengers."
In a statement Nadia's family said: "She was an amazing student and community member, and had a passion for helping people. She was studying Health and Social Care and was working to become a paediatrician. With her passion and determination, there was no doubt she was well on her way to achieve any goal that she put her mind to.
"Unfortunately, at the age of 17, she was taken from us by Rohail's reckless actions that could have been prevented and that has left a hole in our family which can never be repaired. Although no amount of time behind bars will bring Nadia back or be enough, we have hope that the justice system will prevail and kickstart our healing process. We will miss beautiful Nadia forever. Nadia was not only physically beautiful but she had an equally beautiful heart."
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Police at the junction of Mancunian Way and Temperance Street in Manchester city centre after the crash (MEN Media)Det Con Oliver Batty, of Greater Manchester Police said: "Jillani's actions were reckless and dangerous and have ultimately resulted in a young woman losing her life. He chose, through his own volition, to use nitrous oxide, drive at excessive speeds and film himself in the moments that preceded this fatal collision.
"The sentence passed reflects the utter disregard that Jillani had for his passengers and the rules of the road that we, as the public, have to adhere to, day in and day out, to keep each other safe. Jillani chose, through his own volition, to use nitrous oxide, drive at excessive speeds and film himself in the moments that preceded this fatal collision and I hope the sentence today brings some closure to Nadia's family."
Earlier in court defence counsel Michael Lavery said Jillani came from a 'decent' and 'highly respected family' and wants to express his 'real sorrow' for the 'ridiculously stupid' way he drove.