The streets of Highgate, Birmingham were forever changed on April 14, 2024, when a joyful Eid celebration turned into a nightmare. Four-year-old Mayar Yahia was walking home with her family when 23-year-old Javonnie Tavener mounted the curb in his Vauxhall Corsa, striking the little girl and dragging her underneath the car. Mayar was pronounced dead at the scene, while her mother and a neighbour sustained serious injuries.

During the crash, Tavener, who was uninsured, had been using cannabis and talking on his phone. Prosecutor Antonie Muller told Birmingham Crown Court that Tavener “was clearly in excess of the 20mph speed limit” and remained stationary for nine seconds after hitting the pedestrians before reversing, worsening the tragedy. He then tried to flee, calling only his girlfriend to pick him up. Tavener returned on foot later and was arrested.

Tavener had already admitted to causing Mayar’s death by careless driving, causing death while uninsured, two counts of causing serious injury by driving, and assault and battery related to a later domestic incident in Greece, where he strangled his partner until she lost consciousness.

Despite his defence citing his age and guilty plea, Judge Peter Cooke sentenced Tavener to five years and four months in prison—three years and ten months for Mayar’s death and an additional 18 months for assault. He was also disqualified from driving for six years. The judge remarked: “The life of a little girl has been snuffed out when it had barely begun… this can only be construed as a very bad case—excessive speed, dangerous overtaking in a residential area, cannabis in your system, and using a phone.”

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes emphasized the lasting impact: “Pedestrians should be reassured of protection when walking on the pavement. A split-second decision by Tavener has led to this catastrophic chain of events.