Man in court over car crash that killed toddler

A man has appeared in court over a car crash that killed a two-year-old boy at the weekend.

Sharjeel Shahzad, 30, of Cooksey Lane, Great Barr, was charged with a series of offences including causing death by dangerous driving after the crash on Saturday night in Dartmouth Road, Smethwick, near Birmingham.

Toddler Shehbaz Singh died after he and four others were taken to hospital.

Mr Shahzad indicated not guilty pleas through his solicitor when he appeared before District Judge John Bristow at Birmimgham Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

He is alleged to have been driving a Porsche Cayenne with false number-plates when it collided head-on with a Toyota Auris carrying Shehbaz and the four adults, shortly before 23:00 GMT.

A 29-year-old woman and a 30-year-old man remained in a serious condition in hospital, police said.

Mr Shahzad is accused of causing death by dangerous driving, two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, driving the Porsche while displaying false registration plates, driving while disqualified, driving with no insurance, and failing to stop after a collision.

The judge told him: "You are charged with a number of offences.

"The most serious of these offences is an allegation of causing death by dangerous driving."

He said the offence was so serious it could only be dealt with at a crown court.

Mr Shahzad is next due to appear before Birmingham Crown Court on 15 January.

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