Court date set for man accused of fatal Wigan hit and run

A man is finally due to enter his pleas before a judge after being accused of killing a Wigan woman in a hit and run road collision.

Rezar Abukhrais is charged with causing Donna Barrow-Jones’s death by careless or inconsiderate driving in a collision outside Wigan Infirmary on November 23.

The 53-year-old counsellor and psychotherapist was pronounced dead at the scene of the Wigan Lane incident.

The 35-year-old defendant, of Skipton Street, Bolton, is also accusing of failing to stop after an accident, failing to report an accident and driving a Hyundai i40 car without a licence or insurance.

A Bolton Crown Court judge had released him on conditional bail pending a pre-trial preparation hearing in March when he was expected to enter a plea.

But since then, due to the court system being severely hampered by the Covid-19 restrictions, that hearing has been adjourned several times.

However a court spokesman confirmed this week that a date has now been set for June 23.

Should Abukhrais deny the charges, a provisional trial date of October 5 has already been set.

After the tragedy Ms Barrow-Jones’s husband Howard paid tribute in a statement released by the police.

It read: “I am truly devastated over what has happened to my darling wife.

“I cannot believe the hurt that has been forced upon me due to these awful circumstances. Such a tragic loss at such a young age.

“My whole world is broken. I have lots of fond memories of us together and I will miss her forever.”