A speeding hit-and-run driver who killed a 20 year-old student jogger "catapulted into the air" was convicted of causing death by careless driving today and told prison was "inevitable."
Bristol University history student Lizzie Beach-MacGeagh(pictured) suffered a fatal brain injury while crossing Netherlands Road, East Barnet, North London at 8:08pm on June 16, last year.
Lizzie, from Marlborough, Wiltshire had only arrived in London two days earlier for work experience with Italian fashion house Moschino.
She was originally from Claremont Road, Claygate, Surrey and attended the private Rowan Preparatory School.
Driver Aryeris Angelis, 26,(pictured) of Tewkesbury Terrace, New Southgate, North London, an amateur bodybuilder employed in his family's catering business denied, but was convicted unanimously by the Wood Green Crown Court jury of the charge.
Judge Simon Carr bailed the first-time offender to a sentencing date to be fixed and announced: "The remorse normally engendered by a guilty plea is absent. A sentence of imprisonment seems inevitable.
"His not guilty plea was a complete denial of reality. If he had pleaded guilty he would have saved the family the misery of the last months. He gave evidence that was palpably untrue.
"He knew perfectly well he had a collision and within a week knew he had killed somebody, but still chose to deny liability."
The jury failed to reach a verdict on a second count that Angelis did an act intending and with intent to pervert the course of justice between June 15 and 25, namely taking steps to have damage to his BMW repaired.
The prosecution will not seek a retrial on the charge.
Lizzie's father, company director William MacGeagh, 64, from West Sussex said after the verdict: "I am sure I speak for my ex-wife as well when I say this has been the worst experience a parent can go through with the loss of a much-loved daughter who was always so very full of life, positive energy and kindness for all.
"It is a particularly poignant time being the one year anniversary of Elizabeth's death and again so close to Father's Day. I miss her beyond words.
"I don't bear any anger towards the driver. It won't bring Elizabeth back yet he will have to live with the results of his actions and mistakes for the rest of his life."
Prosecutor Mr. Timothy Devlin told the court an eye-wtiness estimated Angelis's speed at 45mph - the limit in the area was 30mph - and a woman described him as driving "too fast."
Lizzie had been jogging in a nearby park with university pal Joshua Alford, who she was staying with in The Hook, Oakleigh Park, when they split because he was going to a local gym.
"She crossed the road at the logical place to do so, having broke off from him," explained Mr. Devlin. "She was wearing headphones, but whether she was listening to music we do not know."
Motorists are warned by the words 'Slow' painted in the road the the prosecution say local man Angelis must have known there would be pedestrians around due to a parade of shops and a tube station.
"As she crossed the road she was struck on the right side by Mr. Angelis's blue BMW," explained Mr. Devlin. "She was thrown into the air and landed on the pavement, striking her head. Sadly she died.
"The car was seen to slow down further up the road and then drive off."
Despite witness appeals in the area local man Angelis did not come forward and drove his damaged BMW across London to a Auto Prestige, Brockley, who later tipped off police.
When quizzed by police the defendant mostly answered "no comment", but offered a short explanation. "He said to police he did not realise he had hit anyone, he thought he clipped a wing mirror."
Judge Carr told the defendant: "It is all but inevitable you will go to prison. The position would be different if you had the courage to plead guilty several months ago.
"You will face the consequences of your actions."
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