Fifth man charged over alleged hit-and-run death of East Lothian woman in Canada

A fifth man has been charged in connection with the death of an East Lothian woman in Toronto following an alleged hit-and-run.

Erin Yoxall was tragically killed after being struck by a white Mercedes in the downtown area of the Canadian city in the early hours of the morning on Thursday, April 14.

The 30-year-old University of Edinburgh graduate was rushed to hospital but passed away from her injuries two days later.

Police in Toronto later confirmed the suspected driver Ertug Direk, 42, had handed himself in and is now being charged with a litany of offences, including dangerous operation of a conveyance causing death, failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death, public mischief, and obstruction of officers.

Nosakhare Ohenhen, 41, also of Toronto, was charged with failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death, obstructing a peace officer, public mischief, and accessory after the fact to commit indictable offence.

Three others, Sinesha Bogojevic, 41, Zachariasz Billik, 37 and Milorad Nikolic, 44, of Mississauga, have each received charges of failing to stop at the scene of an accident causing death, public mischief and obstructing police.

Researcher Erin previously worked at the city’s non-profit Vector Institute – which seeks to advance the development of artificial intelligence.

Friend Adam Kolubinski previously paid an emotional tribute to her “bottomless empathy” in an interview with broadcaster CBC.

He added: “It makes all of this so much worse: she’d never, ever do this to someone.”

“She will be sorely missed and her family and friends are all shocked and devastated that she’s gone. It’s senseless and it’s a waste of a beautiful, promising life.”