A passenger in the car allegedly driven into Daniel Ambler has described being in a "state of panic" during the incident. Daniel Ambler was found with fatal injuries after a collision at the Esso Asda Express Service Station in Seaham, County Durham, and died at the scene on January 15.
Five people are charged with his murder and deny the offence. Barry Anderson, 52, of Canon Cockin Street, Sunderland; Ashton Anderson, 20, of Noble Street, Peterlee; Barry Logan Anderson, 19, of Shotton Bank, Hartlepool; Ajay Henry, 18, of Melrose Crescent, Seaham; and Tyler Leadbetter, 18, of Elgin Avenue, Seaham, are standing trial at Teesside Crown Court.
Passenger describes changing atmosphere
Alexis Prest, who was in a relationship with Ashton Anderson and was in the Nissan X-Trail during the alleged murder, gave evidence on Monday. Her recorded police interviews were also shown to the jury. She said Ashton Anderson was driving and she was in the passenger seat before Tyler Leadbetter and Ajay Henry were picked up. She recalled talk of possibly going for food in Sunderland before they saw Daniel Ambler in Seaham.
She said: "[Ashton] clocked Daniel Ambler…the whole atmosphere changed in the car. He pulled up making sure it was him. He then continued to drive, making calls asking his dad to come and see him."
The jury has heard that the group initially spotted Daniel at a bus stop on Whitlea Road with Reece Wilkin and Anthony Davison. Soon after, the Nissan was driven into the wall of The Mallard pub.
Witness describes fear and shock
Ms Prest said she did not know Daniel at the time and wanted to leave the car as the atmosphere changed. She told police she was in a "state of panic and worried" before the car was driven into the pub wall. Before the alleged murder, she said Ashton seemed "angry, but upset" upon seeing Daniel and had called his dad saying: "Can you come to Seaham, I've got Daniel Ambler, I know where he is."
As the atmosphere became "tense", she said the "worry started to set in" and she had no idea what was going on or what was going to happen. "I was scared, to be fair", she told police. When the Nissan was driven at The Mallard, she said the car "went straight into the wall".
She told police in interview: "From there, I sort of blacked out. I can't remember what went on. When the car hit the wall I remember crying to get out of the car…I didn't want to be there. I was blocking it all out because I was scared."
Describing the moment the Nissan was driven into Daniel at the petrol station, she said "Ashton went straight into him". She said Daniel had "moved left to get out of the way", but the car hit him, and he did not have time to react. Everyone got out of the car and fled, she said. The others "stood for a second and realised what they'd done" before running away, and she described Ashton as "being in shock".
She added: "I didn't want to be there, I had no intentions in being involved in any of it, I was scared." The witness said she had to climb over the driver seat to get out of the vehicle due to a faulty door, before ringing her mum to pick her up. The trial continues.
