PHILADELPHIA – A Lancaster man will serve at least 17 years in prison regarding a 2013 crash in Philadelphia that killed a mother and three of her children.
Khusen Akhmedov was convicted at trial this summer in Philadelphia of four counts of third-degree murder for the death of 28-year-old Samara Banks and three of her sons, ages 7 months to 4 years old.
Philadelphia prosecutors argued that Akhmedov, 25, was racing another driver when his car struck the family as they crossed Roosevelt Boulevard.
Judge Steven R. Groff ordered Akhmedov to serve a 17-to-34-year sentence in state-prison, according to the Philadelphia District Attorney’s office.
Third-degree murder in vehicle-crash cases requires proof that one’s actions went beyond reckless to the level of malice.
Among the witnesses to testify at trial were a Lancaster County cop and a Lancaster woman who discussed previous racing incidents involving Akhmedov.
The second driver involved in the incident, Ahem Holloman, pleaded guilty in July to four counts of vehicular homicide in exchange for a five-to-10-year prison sentence, court documents show.
