Faizeen Haider, 25, was accused of killing Tottington man Gavin Andrews, 34, by driving into him in a BMW as he tried to cross Walmersley Road, Bury, on November 9, 2021.
A trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court more than three years on heard how the driver had not given Mr Andrews, who had been visiting a Chinese takeaway, time to get to safety.
Judge Tina Landale said: “The BMW was being driven at such a speed he didn’t have a chance to get over the road.”
She added: “The BMW was driven less than a mile into a cul-de-sac and was set on fire.”
The trial opened at Minshull Street Crown Court (Image: Anthony Moss) Over the course of the days-long trial, the jury of eight women and four men had heard how Faizeen Haider’s 43-year-old uncle Suaiel was accused of setting the car on fire.
Prosecutor Geoff Whelan said he had done so in a bid to protect his then 21-year-old nephew after the death of Mr Andrews.
A witness had described seeing a man, alleged to be Suaiel, who appeared to have a bald or shaven head and to be wearing a dark leather jacket setting the fire.
Faizaan had then been seen to be appearing to remove two number plates from the burning car.
Reviewing expert evidence, Judge Landale said: “If the BMW had been travelling at 30mph he would have had completely enough time to get out of the way.”
She added: “If the BMW had been travelling at the speed limit, the collision would not have occurred.”
The trial heard how CCTV had caught Faizaan driving the very same BMW earlier that day before at attending a wake where he had been seen ordering several drinks.
He had also been seen parking in a disabled bay and appearing to let off fireworks in a restaurant car park.
Officers investigating the fatal crash were able to link the car to both Faizaan and Suaiel and the pair agreed through solicitors to voluntarily go to the police station the following December.
Both were arrested and gave no comment when interviewed by police.
But summing up the case, Judge Landale said that in his defence statement Faizaan claimed that when the car hit Mr Andrews it had been driven by a man known only as “Eddie”.
Judge Landale referred to the man as “the mysterious Eddie or the phantom Eddie as Mr Whelan has dubbed him”.
Under cross examination by Mr Whelan, Faizaan had said: “I don’t know if Eddie is his first name or his last name or where he lives, you would have to ask Suaiel.”
He said that “Eddie” was not his friend but that he was instead a friend of his uncle’s and that he himself had not been drunk that evening.
When asked why he had not told the police about “Eddie’s” alleged role, Faizaan said that he had been advised to say nothing by police.
Suaiel Haider had chosen not to give evidence in his own defence earlier in the trial.
During the trial Simon Gurney, defending Faizaan, said that he and his uncle both “very much dispute” who had been driving the car.
In his closing speech Hugh Barton, for Suaiel, said that there was no suggestion that the older Haider had been driving at any point in the lead up or aftermath of the crash.
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He told the jury that Suaiel had not in fact been wearing a dark leather jacket that night and that when the police searched his house, they could not find one.
Mr Barton said that this meant it was entirely possible another man had set the car on fire.
But after just around an hour of deliberation the jury found Faizaan Haider, of Mosley Avenue, Bury, guilty of causing death by dangerous driving.
They also convicted him causing death while driving unlicenced or without insurance.
Suaiel Haider, also of Mosley Avenue, Bury, was found guilty of committing an act intending to pervert the course of justice.
Both men will be brought back before the court to be sentenced on Friday, April 25.
