Student Tragically Killed By Hit-And-Run Driver

A 20 year-old student jogger was "catapulted into the air" and tragically killed by a speeding hit-and-run driver who tried to dodge justice by secretly repairing his damaged BMW, a jury were told today.

Bristol University history student Lizzie Beach-MacGeagh,(pic.top) originally from Marlborough, Wiltshire, had only arrived in London two days earlier for work experience with Italian fashion house Moschino.

She was struck crossing Netherlands Road, East Barnet, North London at 8.08pm on June 16, last year - leaving bloodstained debris - and despite an emergency operation that same day at the Royal Free Hospital, died of a brain haemorrhage.

Driver Aryeris Angelis, 26,(pic.bottom) of Tewkesbury Terrace, New Southgate, has pleaded not guilty to causing death by careless driving and also denies doing 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.

Prosecutor Mr. Timothy Devlin told Wood Green Crown Court an eye-witness 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."

The witness who told police Angelis was driving at 45mph also told officers: "She seemed to freeze for a second and then there was a massive bang and bits of car in the air."

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.

A pal of the defendant's also quizzed him about the damage. "He was told by Mr. Angelis that he had the sun in his eyes, he hit something, but did not know what happened."

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."

The trial is expected to last two weeks.