Terrence King, 60, has denied murdering 15-year-old Devon Simmonds-Caines, telling police in a recorded interview that his intention was to 'block' the stolen e-bike the teenager was riding from leaving. The incident occurred on Rowrah Crescent in Middleton on July 22 last year.
Prosecution Alleges Deliberate Act
Prosecuting, Michael Hayton KC told jurors at Minshull Street Crown Court that Devon died after being hit by King's Vauxhall Insignia. He alleged that Devon's death was 'caused by the deliberate actions of the defendant who, in temper or outrage', made a 'conscious and deliberate decision to drive towards Devon and to steer towards him at speed and to collide with him'. The court heard that Devon suffered serious injuries which proved 'unsurvivable', and he was pronounced dead at the scene at 12.20pm.
Background of the Incident
The jury was told that the e-bike Devon was riding had been 'robbed' earlier that day by Devon and another youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons. The owner of the e-bike had been 'physically dragged' off it, the court heard. King has admitted manslaughter but denies murder.
Police Interview Evidence
On Wednesday, July 8, the jury viewed a video-recorded police interview with King following his arrest. When initially asked by the interviewing officer, 'Are you responsible for his death?', King replied quietly, 'Yes.' Describing the events, he said he was parked outside his ex-partner's home when he saw the owner of the e-bike running down Rowrah Crescent 'screaming and panicking', pointing and shouting, 'They robbed me, they robbed me'.
'I was panicked and I drove off straight away,' King told police. He said that as he drove up the road, which has a bend and goes slightly uphill, he saw somebody sat on the stolen e-bike facing the direction he had come from. 'I had so many decisions to make on what to do. The first was to try and block [the] bike from moving. My intention was to block person from moving and that's when I crashed.'
King recalled: 'I only knew I crashed from smoke came out the airbag. I didn't know what crashed into. I was a bit dazed. I walked down the back of car to passenger side, looked over and could see Devon.' He added that people were screaming, and he heard someone say, 'he's dead, he's dead'. King stated he was 'confused, panicked and anxious', saying, 'I just wanted to find his bike for him.' He denied intending to harm the person who stole the e-bike or to take their life.
Emotional Aftermath
King told police: 'I feel a bit strange, it's an absolutely life changing thing that happened, and I feel like I have to defend [sic]. I’m still trying to explain to you as much as I can what's happened and the situation, but a kid's died and I feel a bit strange.' Jurors were previously read agreed facts, including a witness statement that King was crying as he said words to the effect of, 'I'm sorry I killed him.' After his arrest and caution, he was heard crying in a police cell before mumbling: 'He was 17, I can't believe it, 17, I can't believe I did that.'
King, of Castlerigg Drive, Middleton, denies murder. The trial continues.
