Footage released by the Crown Prosecution Service shows a man accused of murder overtaking another car moments before he allegedly struck a headteacher cycling home, then dragging him underneath his vehicle.
Simon Richardson, 35, is alleged to have hit Michael Mullins as he pedalled home to Northwich from work at Stretford Grammar School on April 20. Prosecutors allege that Richardson did not stop and 'put his foot down', dragging Mullins, 56, along the road for 1.3 miles before leaving him to die on a grass verge.
Dashcam footage shown to jury
In footage shared by the CPS on Monday afternoon, October 19, and previously shown before the jury, the 17-second clip shows the Volvo, driven by Richardson, overtaking another vehicle on Dunham Road. The dashcam footage, taken from the car behind, shows him behind two cars before moving into the opposite lane and driving past.
The CPS has also shared an image of the Volvo, with Richardson in the driver's seat, allegedly taken moments after the collision by an ANPR camera. In the picture, there is a dent to the front right area of the car bonnet, and the driver's window appears to be fully down.
Medical evidence in court
In day five of the trial, jurors heard evidence from Dr Terrence McGloughlin, a consultant in emergency medicine. Asked by prosecutor Phil Barnes KC if it was his opinion that Mullins survived the initial impact, Dr McLoughlin said: “My understanding from the evidence is that he survived the initial impact.”
Asked whether Mullins was unconscious throughout the 'dragging', Dr McLoughlin said: “On the evidence provided I am unable to say whether he was conscious or not.” He added that blood loss causes hypovolemic shock, which brings the heart rate down due to lack of blood volume, affecting the circulatory system and causing circulatory failure.
Dr McGloughlin added that evidence from the Apple Watch worn by Mullins showed that the moment he was released from the car the watch continued to record his heart. “It supports that he was still physiologically alive,” Dr McLoughlin said.
GPS and phone data examined
Jurors also heard evidence from Dr Chaz Dixon, an expert in navigation and GPS technology. Of Gabrielle Debotte's phone, who was said to be a passenger in the Volvo at the time, he said it 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.
The court heard there was a gap of 28 seconds within the Apple 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 Epsom Avenue in Sale, denies murder, an alternate offence of manslaughter and dangerous driving. The trial continues.
