A 40-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of helping a father evade justice after he killed his seven-month-old daughter in a drink-drive crash and fled the scene.
Emmanuel Sakyi, 31, was found unanimously guilty of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced in his absence to 15 years in prison. He drove his grey Peugeot 508 on the wrong side of the road on Bletcham Way in Milton Keynes in December 2022, colliding with a green Fiat 500. He was more than twice the legal alcohol limit.
“Woman arrested on suspicion of helping drink-drive father who killed baby daughter and fled, police still hunting him.”
His daughter, Emmanuela, was sitting on her mother’s lap in the front passenger seat and was not secured in a car seat or appropriate restraint, the court heard. She suffered serious injuries in the crash and later died in hospital.
Sakyi failed to appear for his sentencing at Aylesbury Crown Court and remains wanted by police. He is described as a black man with a medium build, black hair, brown eyes and about 5ft 3in tall.
The woman, also from Milton Keynes, was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of assisting an offender, Thames Valley Police said on Sunday. She has been released under investigation while inquiries continue.
‘Nearly four years ago, seven-month-old Emmanuela lost her life because her father chose to drink drive,’ said Detective Inspector Justin Thomas of the Serious Collision Investigation Unit. ‘We have made an arrest and are continuing our inquiries to locate Sakyi, but we still need the public’s help.’
Thomas released collision reconstruction footage and images of the damage to Sakyi’s car to demonstrate ‘the catastrophic consequences of the choices he made that day’. He added: ‘Emmanuela’s death was entirely preventable.’
Emmanuela’s mother, Ruth Oppong, 34, was convicted of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and causing unnecessary suffering or injury to a child. She was sentenced to one year and nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years.
‘We know there are people within the community who know where Sakyi is or have information that could help us find him,’ Thomas said. ‘I would urge anybody who is assisting him, harbouring him, or helping him evade justice to consider the seriousness of this case and do the right thing.’