FRIEND and one of the survivors of the fatal crash that killed Newport teen Xana Doyle has been unable to sleep since due to traumatic flashbacks, a court heard yesterday.

Liliana Breeds, 15, was in the front seat on a Toyota Avensis which crashed on Usk Way on January 9, killing 19-year-old Xana.

The car’s driver, Sakhawat Ali, aged 23, of Harrow Road, Newport, was twice over the drink drive limit and had taken cocaine shortly before the accident. He has already admitted causing death by dangerous driving and aggravated vehicle taking.

His cousin, Shabaz Ali, aged 21, of Ribble Square, Newport, has admitted aggravated allowing to be carried involving a fatal accident.

Cardiff Crown Court heard evidence from Ms Breeds via video link earlier today as part of a Newton hearing, which will be used by Judge Neil Bidder to determine the extent to which a handbrake being pulled up contributed to the crash.

Having attended a house party with his cousin, Xana and Ms Breeds at an address in Bettws between 10pm and 6am, Sakhawat Ali offered to take Xana home. Ms Breeds and Shabaz Ali went with them.

Initially, Shabaz Ali had been sitting in the front passenger’s seat but after a jump start at the Harlequin Roundabout, Sakhawat Ali asked Ms Breeds to sit in the front.

Ms Breeds said that Shabaz Ali had looked to pull up the handbrake as they drove by the Newport Bridge, again near the Millennium Bridge and then, with fatal consequences, near Castle Bingo.

Giving evidence, the teenager said: “I keep having flashbacks and I haven’t been able to sleep since. I’ve still got a constant pain in my head.

“I only got in the car in the first place because Xana wanted me to go with her.

“Bashy [Shabaz] told Sakh [Sakhawat] to drive like a learner, but Sakh was showing off.

“He was speeding….and Bashy was pulling up the handbrake.”

The court also heard evidence from driver Sakhawat Ali, who claimed the car only went "out of control" because of the handbrake being pulled up by his cousin.

He said: “I was getting quite angry with the handbrake being pulled up by Shabaz.

“Me and Liliana looked back when he did it, and the car went out of control and hit the kerb at Castle Bingo.

“When I found out Xana had died, I was devastated.”

PC Paul Rhys, the traffic officer in charge of the case, looked at the feasibility of Shabaz Ali, at 5ft 7in, being able to reach the handbrake.

The officer, who is 5ft 9in, told the court that no forensic examination of the handbrake's fingerprints had taken place and that he, himself, found it difficult to reach the handbrake from the back seat.

The South Wales Argus successfully appealed a court order which today allows us to identify Liliana in our coverage of the case.

Proceeding.