A man has pleaded guilty to causing the death by dangerous driving of a young mother of two in a hit-and-run collision in Hackney.
At Snaresbrook Crown Court on Monday afternoon, Martin Reilly admitted causing the death of Gao Gao, 36, after hitting her with a car he was driving on the evening of September 21.
Her Honour Judge Caroline English returned him to custody and told Reilly: “The matter you have pleaded guilty to is incredibly serious.
“You should expect to receive a substantial and immediate prison sentence.”
CCTV footage of the incident is believed to have been instrumental in Reilly’s decision to plead guilty.
Prior to entering a plea, the judge told his barrister, Monica Stevenson, that she had viewed the footage and said: “This defendant needs some very robust advice.”
The crash happened in Whiston Road, a motorists’ “rat run” notorious for speeding, on the north side of Haggerston park.
The car being driven by Reilly was pictured overturned by neighbours. Reilly was shown the CCTV footage on Monday morning ahead of entering a plea.
Gao Gao, who was cycling home to her husband and two young children, was rushed to hospital in a life-threatening condition but did not survive her injuries. She was described by her family as having “so much more to give”.
Many members of her family were in court to hear Reilly plead guilty.
Reilly, who spoke only to make a plea of “guilty”, was dressed in a grey jumper and jeans. He is due back in court for sentencing on January 19. His barrister asked that pre-sentencing reports be drawn up, including for “mental health issues”. The plea hearing, which was adjourned from Monday morning, lasted barely 10 minutes.
Reilly was arrested by police two days after the crash. Two people were spotted fleeing the overturned vehicle. Police decided to take no action against the second person.
Since June 2022, causing death by dangerous driving carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
According to Sentencing Council guidelines, the fact that his victim, as a cyclist, was a “vulnerable road user” will be an aggravating factor that will result in a longer sentence – as will the fact that he fled the scene.
However he can expect to receive a reduction in the length of sentence due to his guilty plea.
Gao Gao’s sister Ella paid tribute at a protest ride to Hackney town hall on Wednesday night that was organised by Hackney Cycling Campaign in the wake of three people having been killed cycling in the borough in recent weeks.
A statement from Gao Gao’s family said it “should have been her right to get home safely”.
It said: “She had so much more to give, and so much more that she wanted to do with her life.”
According to her Linked-In profile, Gao Gao was associate director of leadership philanthropy at LSE. She previously worked in similar roles at UCL and Oxford university.
