Dashcam footage has been released showing a 4x4 driver overtaking vehicles moments before he allegedly hit a headteacher cycling home from school, dragging him a mile to his death. The video was shown during the murder trial of Simon Richardson at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.
Fatal collision on April 20
Michael Mullins, 56, was cycling home from Stretford Grammar School in Manchester on April 20 when he was struck by a Volvo XC90 driven by Richardson. Instead of stopping, jurors heard that Richardson 'put his foot down and fled the scene' at more than 60mph, with Mr Mullins trapped under the wheels.
The Volvo left a mile-long trail of blood to a grass verge on Wet Gate Lane in Lymm, Cheshire, where the married father of two was found dying. Prosecutors argue that Richardson is guilty of murder because he knew Mr Mullins was being dragged under his car and the risks of causing him at least really serious harm 'and yet he drove on anyway'.
Dashcam and witness accounts
Before the crash, witnesses described seeing Richardson's black Volvo 'absolutely tanking it' towards the junction of Dunham Road and Warburton Lane. Dashcam footage from the car behind appears to show him veering into the opposite lane to overtake two vehicles driving ahead.
Jurors were also shown a photo of Richardson sitting behind the wheel moments after the crash. In the image, which has also been released, damage appears visible on the front right of the bonnet.
Prosecution and medical evidence
Phil Barnes KC, prosecuting, previously told jurors: 'That damage was not there before the collision. It is beyond doubt, we say, that damage was caused by Michael Mullins being thrown up on to the bonnet of the Volvo when the defendant hit him. Putting it bluntly, there is no way on earth that Simon Richardson could not have known that he had just hit Michael Mullins and that he was very likely to be hurt.'
The court heard evidence from Dr Terrence McGloughlin, a consultant in emergency medicine. He said the evidence suggested Mr Mullins survived the initial impact from the Volvo. Asked whether Mr Mullins was unconscious throughout the subsequent 'dragging', Dr McGloughlin said: 'On the evidence provided I am unable to say whether he was conscious or not.'
Dr McGloughlin said evidence from Mr Mullins's Apple Watch showed it continued to record his heart rate after he was released from the car: 'It supports that he was still physiologically alive.' But Richardson's barrister Jaime Hamilton KC questioned the doctor on the accuracy of the Apple Watch data, pointing to data suggesting movement after 6.50pm when Mr Mullins had been pronounced dead. Dr McGloughlin accepted there was no heart rate at this stage and said the watch had been removed after 6.50pm.
GPS tracking and trial continues
Jurors also heard evidence from Dr Chaz Dixon, an expert in navigation and GPS technology. The court heard that a phone belonging to Richardson's passenger was in the vicinity of the Bulls Head pub before moving to Altrincham, going through the junction of Paddock Lane and Dunham Lane, before moving onto Wet Gate Lane in Lymm. Mr Mullins's Apple Watch showed he left Stretford Grammar School, went through Stretford, Urmston, Flixton, through Carrington, then on towards Lymm.
The court heard there was a gap of 28 seconds within the watch data. 'The data has for some reason not been recorded,' Dr Dixon said. 'It's very unusual to have a gap in the data of that nature. If I hadn't known there was a collision, I would struggle to know why that occurred. Knowing that there was a collision, it seems very likely that this was as a direct result of the collision.'
Richardson, of no fixed address but formerly of Sale, denies murder, an alternate offence of manslaughter and dangerous driving. The trial continues.
