Street racers Chantelle Pope, Abdelkader Nadour to be sentenced over 2022 Enfield fatal crash

A woman involved in a fatal street race crash which killed a teenager in Sydney’s inner west has been questioned about her remorse after a court heard she live streamed her lavish wedding while on bail for manslaughter.

The car the 19-year-old teenager was driving. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

A woman involved in a fatal street race crash which killed a teenager in Sydney’s inner west has been questioned about her remorse after a court heard she live streamed her lavish wedding while on bail for manslaughter.

Chantelle Pope, 27, and Abdelkader Nadour, 49, faced Downing Centre District Court on Monday, sitting at John Maddison Tower, for sentence submissions after a jury found them guilty of manslaughter in March.

On April 9, 2022, the two strangers engaged in “competitive driving” while racing down Coronation Drive in Enfield at over 100km/h in a 60 zone.

Chilling vision played to the jury showed the moments Nadour’s Audi, followed closely by Pope’s Toyota, collided with an oncoming Volkswagen.

Officers on the scene of the fatal crash. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

The Volkswagen’s 19-year-old driver, who cannot be named for legal reasons, died immediately with injuries so severe his body and face were unrecognisable.

During sentencing, a victim impact statement was read on behalf of the teenager’s parents who lost their only son.

Chantelle Pope on her wedding day in March 2024. Picture: YouTube

“We keep reliving that moment, forever tormenting us for the rest of our lives. We could not accept our kind-hearted son had met such a tragic end,” the statement read.

The prosecution submitted Pope had accelerated to stop Nadour from merging and after being arrested stated: “I was going to get there first.”

Nadour’s lawyer said his client had “momentarily” misjudged the gap to merge while trying to avoid a parked HiLux.

Pope told the court she regretted speeding and was “completely distraught about the family”.

CCTV shows the moment Nadour’s car slammed into the Volkswagen. Picture: Channel 7

When Crown Prosecutor John Sfinas asked Pope how she was affected in the aftermath of the crash, she said she suffered significant trauma which turned her life “upside down”.

“I had a lot of trauma, I couldn’t be a passenger or walk down the street without having a panic attack if I heard a car brake,” she said

Mr Sfinas noted Pope’s March 2024 wedding and the four hour reception of which was broadcast on YouTube, and questioned the evidence she was “traumatised and anxious and stopped doing things”.

“When you say you were anxious and depressed, what was it that you were not capable of doing?” Mr Sfinas asked.

CCTV shows the moment leading up to the crash. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

Judge Penelope Hock accepted it was a “brain snap” by both offenders. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“I’m asking ... despite your mental health journey, you were able to maintain a long-term loving relationship.”

Pope replied: “It wasn’t easy, it was a big impact in our relationship.”

Mr Sfinas then questioned Pope’s remorse and responsibility.

Pope said she was remorseful but faltered when asked whether she accepted responsibility for their loss.

“I wasn’t the cause of the accident from my side,” Pope responded.

Mr Sfinas said: “So you don’t accept responsibility.”

Pope replied: “I accept I was speeding.”

Mr Sfinas asked: “Do you accept you were the cause of the collision?”

Pope replied: “I take responsibility for my speeding”.

Mr Sfinas continued: “Are you not accepting responsibility for the collision?”

Pope responded: “No because it wasn't just me in this incident.”

The Crown also argued Nadour didn’t accept responsibility, and instead put “all the blame” on Ms Pope.

Judge Penelope Hock accepted it was a “brain snap” by both offenders, who will be sentenced on Thursday.