Penge crash: Joshua Dobby admits killing child star Makayah McDermott and aunt

Child acotr: Makayah McDermott, 10, was killed in the chase
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A millionaire’s son has admitted mowing down and killing a 10-year-old boy and his aunt while fleeing from police.

Joshua Dobby, 23, crashed into young actor Makayah McDermott and his aunt Rozanne Cooper, 35, as they walked to the park in Penge, south east London in August.

Dobby lost control of a Ford Focus in Lennard Road on August 31, ploughing into the family before striking a tree.

Makayah and Ms Cooper died from their injuries, while the boy’s twin sisters, Niyah and Yahla, 13, and cousin Eva, 8, were also injured in the crash.

At the Old Bailey this morning, Dobby pleaded not guilty to two counts of manslaughter but admitted causing death by dangerous driving.

He also pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving over injuries to Yahla.

Admission: Joshua Dobby

Prosecutor Jonathan Polnay told the court Dobby will still stand trial on the manslaughter charges.

After his arrest, it emerged Dobby’s father Mark lives in a £2.7m house in Kent, and runs a pet food wholesale company as well as an investments company and a property lettings agency.

Dobby, who is of no fixed address, appeared at the Old Bailey via videolink from HMP Highdown this morning to enter the pleas.

Wearing a cross around his neck, he pleaded not guilty to two counts of manslaughter but guilty to causing death by dangerous driving, and guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Rozanne Cooper, the aunt of the children, also died
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Following the deaths, relatives and friends paid tribute to Ms Cooper and Makayah, who had just earned his big break as a child actor in a production of the Wizard of Oz.

He, along with his sisters and cousin, were all talented actors and models, having appeared in magazine shoots, TV commercials, and on book covers.

Makayah himself had starred in an advert for Asda and was auditioning for the lead role in a TV series when he died.

Judge Nicholas Hilliard QC, the Recorder of London, remanded Dobby in custody until a manslaughter trial on February 27 next year.

The court also heard Dobby is accused of dangerous driving four days before the crash in a separate incident.

He has not yet entered a plea on this charge.

Robin Ghosh, representing Dobby, said: "He wishes it to be noted that he fully acknowledges the utterly incomprehensible pain and suffering caused to the families involved."

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