Calgary man on trial for fatal hit-and-run has previous dangerous driving convictions

A Calgary man accused of fatally striking a woman with his vehicle and then speeding away has a criminal history involving hit and run, dangerous driving, fleeing police and robberies, court records show. 

Hani Salama, 45, is now on trial for hit and run causing death.

He is accused of causing fatal injuries to 27-year-old Alok Akot and then driving away in October 2022.

Five years before Akot's death, Salama was sentenced to 69 months in prison for two sets of crimes in 2014.

• Woman dies after southeast Calgary hit and run

On Monday, prosecutor Alex Russell delivered an opening statement, telling Justice Jim Sawa that the only issue is whether Salama was behind the wheel of his black Mercedes Benz at the time of the collision. 

Salama, represented by defence lawyer Tariq Salloum, has already admitted the Mercedes was the vehicle involved in the hit and run.

Parents of victim attend trial

Just before 8 p.m. on Oct. 27, 2022,  Akot crossed the west-bound lanes of 17th Avenue S.E. at 44th Street against a "Don't Walk" light. 

As video of the hit-and-run incident was played in court, Akot's mother let out a soft wail as she watched her daughter thrown 11 metres by a vehicle that sped away. 

The video shows one vehicle in the left lane, waiting to make a turn as Akot crosses the street. She is nearing the sidewalk as the Mercedes zooms through the frame, striking Akot and then driving off. 

"The collision was unavoidable given [Akot's] location in the crosswalk and the obstructed view of the driver," said Russell, referencing the car in the left lane. 

'Something bad happened'

But the issue is that the driver who caused Akot's fatal injuries did not stop. 

Instead, video evidence played in the trial shows nearby bystanders and people in their vehicles rushed to Akot's side with police and paramedics arriving shortly after.

The conduct of the driver was described by Russell as "egregious."

The victim was taken to hospital in life-threatening condition but died of her injuries the next evening. 

Salama was the registered owner of a black Mercedes at that time. 

Pieces of a Mercedes were left on the street, and when Salama's Mercedes was seized by police, the car had damage.

"Common sense here suggests that this driver knew something bad had happened," said Russell. 

'Suspicious' timing 

On Oct. 31, Salama transferred ownership of the vehicle to his father, according to the agreed statement of facts. 

"The timing of this is suspicious," said Russell. 

That same day, police seized Salama's vehicle.

He was ultimately charged a year later. 

A collision report found tire marks at the scene of the collision. Based on the length of the marks, it was determined the car braked hard, decelerating by 40 km/h right before the collision with Akot.

A cellphone analysis placed Salama's phone in a 2.5-kilometre radius of the collision scene within an hour of the incident and then in a "logical distance" of the scene 30 minutes after, said Russell. 

Case not proven, says defence

But the defence argued the Crown has not proven Salama was driving the Mercedes at the time of the crash. 

And even if the judge finds Salama was driving, Salloum argued the Crown hasn't proven the driver would have known he had hit someone. 

In his closing submissions, Salloum argued that cellphone analysis of his client's device "does not place the vehicle at the scene, does not place Mr. Salama at the scene

"Someone did lose their life and it's extremely tragic," said Salloum. "But our sympathy can't replace the requirement for the Crown to prove [the case] beyond a reasonable doubt."

Sawa will make his decision in the coming weeks. 

Prior convictions

Salama's criminal history includes convictions for driving-related offences.  

In 2017, he was handed a sentence of five years, nine months for a series of charges involving two incidents that took place in 2014.

Details of his crimes come from an Alberta Court of Appeal decision.

In June 2014, Salama robbed a 7-Eleven while drunk and high on drugs. He used a garden tool with a hoe blade and prongs to threaten two clerks before stealing $1,500 in cash and cigarettes. 

Salama tried to flee police who arrived as he was leaving the store, but the four officers were able to make the arrest.

Salama was released on bail. 

'Violent and dangerous actions'

Six days later, he broke into a home through a sliding basement window and stole $10,000 worth of goods, returning to the home several times to remove the items.

When police found Salama later that evening, he was driving a stolen Mazda. Officers attempted to block him in a parking stall, but he drove over a gravel median and shrub to escape.

The flight from police continued as Salama drove through the Beltline and downtown areas of the city, crashing into one car, driving on the sidewalk, running red lights and driving down the wrong side of the road. 

Salama ditched the car along 10th Avenue and ran into a hotel, where he was caught by police in the lobby.

Again, Salama resisted arrest. Officers noted he was high on drugs. 

The sentencing judge handed down a 69-month sentence for all of the offences. 

The court of appeal judges upheld Salama's sentence but gave him three extra weeks credit for the time he'd served before trial. 

On June 21, 2018, the judges noted Salama "had a prior pattern of resisting authority and breaching court orders, sometimes through violent and dangerous actions."