Woman Arrested for Aiding Fugitive Father Who Killed Infant in Drunk Driving Crash
A woman has been arrested on suspicion of assisting a convicted killer who fled before sentencing – a father who was found guilty of causing the death of his own baby in a devastating drunk driving crash.
Emmanuel Sakyi, 31, was driving on the wrong side of the road and more than double the legal alcohol limit when his Peugeot 508 collided head-on with a Fiat 500 in Milton Keynes on 4 December 2022. His seven-month-old daughter, Emmanuela, was sitting on her mother’s lap in the passenger seat. She suffered severe abdominal trauma and later died in hospital.
After the crash, Sakyi fled on foot from the scene. He was arrested by police but later failed to appear at Aylesbury Crown Court for his trial and sentencing, prompting a manhunt that continues more than six months later.
On Thursday, Thames Valley Police arrested a 40-year-old woman from Milton Keynes on suspicion of assisting an offender, believed to be linked to efforts to locate Sakyi. She has been released under investigation pending further inquiries.
Sakyi was convicted in absentia of causing death by dangerous driving and sentenced to 15 years in prison on 29 June. During the trial, jurors heard that he drove a “considerable distance on the wrong side of the road” and ignored warning flashes and horn blasts from the oncoming Fiat driver.
The case has drawn widespread attention for its tragic details and the legal aftermath. Emmanuela’s mother, Ruth Oppong, 34, was sentenced to one year and nine months’ imprisonment, suspended for two years, after being convicted of aiding and abetting causing death by dangerous driving and causing unnecessary suffering or injury to a child. Police noted that Oppong had allowed the baby to sit on her lap without a seatbelt or car seat – a decision that compounded the tragedy.
Detective Inspector Justin Thomas of Thames Valley Police appealed to the public for information, emphasising that the force believes people in the community know Sakyi’s whereabouts. “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,” Thomas said. “Emmanuela lost her life and Sakyi has been sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment. Our determination to locate him has not diminished.”
Authorities describe Sakyi as black, of medium build, with black hair and brown eyes, standing about 5ft 3in (1.6m). They warn members of the public not to approach him and to call 999 immediately if they spot him.
Local media outlets have followed the case closely, with many questioning how a convicted killer remains free months after sentencing. The arrest of the woman suspected of aiding him suggests police are actively pursuing those who may be sheltering or supporting Sakyi. The case also reignites debate over parental responsibility, drink-driving penalties, and the effectiveness of the justice system in ensuring convicted offenders serve their sentences.
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— Thames Valley Police are urging anyone with information to contact them via 101 or the force’s website, quoting reference 43240450945.