Police officer charged over deaths of child star, 10, and his aunt in car crash

A police officer has been charged after a child actor and his aunt died after being hit by a car during a high-speed chase.

Met Police officer PC Edward Welch, 32, will stand trial over the fatal collision in Penge, south London, in August 2016, which claimed the lives of Makayah McDermott, ten, and Rozanne Cooper, 34 nearly five years ago.

Joshua Dobby – the estranged son of a millionaire ploughed into talented 10-year-old Makayah and his aunt Ms Cooper, 34, after losing control of the stolen Ford Focus in August 2016, his trial heard.

Ms. Cooper was taking her nephew, his older sisters, and her daughter for ice creams at a local park on August 31, 2016, when the black Ford Focus hit them.

Dobby, a drug addict, had been driving at three times the speed limit down one-way roads and jumped red lights while being chased by police before he crashed into the group, a court heard.

The young actor’s 13-year-old twin sisters, Niyah and Yahla, and Miss Cooper’s eight-year-old daughter Eva were injured in the crash.

PC Edward, an officer from the Metropolitan Police, was on Tuesday charged with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and dangerous driving.

A second PC who was with PC Welch was not charged after the legal test for prosecution was not met for any alleged offences.

PC Welch will make his first appearance before magistrates on a date yet to be fixed.

Dobby was previously jailed for 12 years, with three years on extended licence for two counts of manslaughter, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and dangerous driving.

He told his victims’ family in court at the time: “I’m truly sorry for what I have done.”

Talented actor and footballer Makayah, who appeared in an Asda advert, had dreamed of playing for Chelsea FC.

A Met police statement said: “We are aware the Crown Prosecution Service has charged PC Edward Welch with two counts of causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and dangerous driving.

“This follows an incident where Rozanne Cooper, 34, and Makayah McDermott, 10, died on 31 August 2016.”