A man has appeared in court accused of causing the death of a university student who was hit by a van in central London.
Aalia Mahomed, from Mitcham, who was a student at King’s College London, died at the scene of the crash on the Strand on March 18 last year.
The 20-year-old was in her second year of a physics and philosophy degree, according to the university’s website.
A man and a woman in their 20s were also seriously injured during the collision.
Christopher Jackson appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Monday charged with causing death by dangerous driving and two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving over the incident.
It is alleged that the van collided with a metal gate, knocking it off its hinges, before hitting the bench where Ms Mahomed was sitting, prosecutor Rachel Darlington told the court.
Jackson, wearing a black shirt and black trousers, spoke to confirm his identity and was not asked to enter a plea to the charges.
The 27-year-old, of Walton Road in Southampton, was released on conditional bail ahead of his next appearance at the Old Bailey on February 2.
Ms Mahomed's family paid tribute to her after her death as a “bright, kind and beautiful soul”.
Hundreds of people attended a vigil to pay tribute to the popular student a week after the crash.
At a later memorial her family called for justice for the student as a plaque was unveiled in her honour.
