A murder trial has heard that a driver was “not aware” that Stretford Grammar headteacher Michael Mullins was trapped under his car until he was finally dislodged. Simon Richardson, 35, is accused of hitting Mr Mullins as he cycled home from work on April 20.
Prosecutors allege that Mr Richardson did not stop and “put his foot down”, dragging the 56-year-old along the road for 2.2km – 1.3 miles – before leaving him to die on a grass verge on Wet Gate Lane in Lymm. Jurors previously heard witnesses describe seeing Mr Richardson’s Volvo “absolutely tanking it” towards the junction of Dunham Road and Warburton Lane moments before the collision.
Mr Richardson denies murder, an alternate offence of manslaughter, and dangerous driving. He is on trial at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court.
Defence Case: Driver Only Realised After Reversing
On Thursday, jurors were told that it was Mr Richardson’s case that he only realised Mr Mullins was underneath his car after he reversed his vehicle to return to the main road and his front seat passenger said there was “something” nearby.
Gabrielle Debotte previously told the court that her cousin knew Mr Mullins was under the car shortly after the collision after they both heard “moaning” noises. She said he later turned into Wet Gate Lane in Lymm and twice got out of the vehicle to attempt to physically remove Mr Mullins before he drove “erratically”.
Prosecutors allege that Mr Richardson drove over Mr Mullins, who became dislodged. Ms Debotte previously told jurors that she then saw the cyclist for the first time on the ground.
Witness Cross-Examination
Jaime Hamilton KC, cross-examining, said: “Mr Richardson says he didn’t get out of the vehicle at any point when you stopped there, do you agree with that?”
Ms Debotte said: “No.”
Mr Hamilton said: “And he didn’t take hold of the cyclist, do you agree with that?”
“No,” repeated Ms Debotte.
She told Mr Hamilton she could not remember saying she had seen “something” on the road or the grass verge in Wet Gate Lane.
Mr Hamilton said: “You are changing your account to try to make sure you are not in trouble, that’s your purpose isn’t it?”
Ms Debotte said: “No.”
Mr Hamilton went on: “And in doing so you are trying to make it progressively worse for Mr Richardson?”
Ms Debotte said: “No, I’m just telling the truth.”
The witness, giving evidence from behind a screen, confirmed to prosecutor Phil Barnes KC that she and her cousin had been on “very friendly terms”.
Mr Barnes said: “Do you have any reason to come here and lie about Simon Richardson?”
Ms Debotte said: “Absolutely not.”
Mr Barnes said: “What is being suggested to you is that Simon Richardson didn’t know anything about Mr Mullins being under his car until the moment he was released from that grass verge, do you agree with that?”
Ms Debotte said: “No, I disagree with that.”
Mr Barnes said: “From your observations, is that remotely possible?”
“No,” said Ms Debotte.
“Looking back, do you think you should have done more?” Mr Barnes said. “Absolutely,” Ms Debotte said.
“Why?” she was asked. “I don’t know, I wasn't thinking at the time, I was really scared, I've never seen anything like it before” she replied.
Manager's Statement and Trial Progress
The court also heard a statement from Ms Debotte's manager, Nicola Goddard, who called the police after the nursery nurse told her that she had been involved in a collision with a cyclist. Within the statement, she said: "Gabby [Ms Debotte] provided further detail of the car hitting the cyclist, she said to Simon ‘bike, bike, bike’ in warning, then hit him. She can’t say how fast he was driving, just that he was ‘gliding’."
She said he was stuck under the car, I asked why she did not stop, she said she was screaming at him to stop, and he slammed the car into the curb. I asked if body fell out and she said no.
"I was shocked and disgusted with her, I swore at her and said ‘what the hell were you doing’. I said ‘what you just sat in the car’, she said ‘yes I was in shock’."
Mr Hamilton told the court that Mr Richardson will not be giving evidence, and the defence will not be calling or presenting any evidence. Mr Richardson, of no fixed address, but formerly of Epsom Avenue, Sale, denies murder, an alternate offence of manslaughter, and dangerous driving. The trial continues.
