A university student accused of killing her teenage sister in a car crash has denied causing death by dangerous driving.

Criminology student Meliha Kaya launched her Mini Cooper over a three-foot wall and into a tree during a smash on Chigwell Road, South Woodford, in February 2016, prosecutors allege.

One of her passengers, 16-year-old sister Elif Kaya, was sat in the front passenger seat at the time of the crash and died at the scene.

The young driver suffered life threatening injuries and underwent plastic surgery to her face after the incident, while friend Ayla Osman, 21, was also seriously badly hurt.

Ms Kaya, of Finchingfield Avenue, Woodford, appeared at the Old Bailey on Thursday to deny charges of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

The 21-year-old will stand trial with Jordash Graham, 24, of Sansom Road, Leytonstone, who denies driving a Ford Focus dangerously in High Road and Chigwell Road before the crash.

The pair will next appear at the Old Bailey for a pre-trial hearing on April 25.

Judge Wendy Joseph QC said: “Ms Kaya and Mr Graham, at the moment the trial is fixed for 18 June.

“I am going to release you on bail to be back at this court for a pre-trial hearing which is called a plea and trial preparation hearing on the 25 April.

“There are no conditions to your bail other than the implicit condition you are back here in good time on that day.”

Elif was studying her A Levels at Epping Forest College and dreamed of becoming a barrister.

Her mother Demet Kaya, 36, said after the accident: “She was an angel. She was a lovely daughter. She wanted to be a barrister and was doing so well.

“This is just so unfair. She was a very fair child, very confident and strong character. She was so intelligent and worked very hard”.