A father and son consumed 25 beers between them before a high-speed crash that killed a four-year-old boy, a court has heard. Patrick Maughan, 54, and Owen Maughan, 27, are accused of murdering little Peter Maughan in Dartford, Kent, after a road rage incident.
Maidstone Crown Court heard that on June 1 last year, the pair spent the day drinking at two pubs in Rochester, Kent, with Owen consuming around 12 bottles of beer and Patrick about 13 pints. They then got into a Ford Ranger pick-up truck to drive home.
While travelling along the A2, they saw Owen's cousin Hayley in another pick-up truck driven by her partner Lovell Mahon. Their children Peter, 4, and Annarica, 1, were also in the vehicle. The court heard the father and son began hurling abuse and Owen's driving became increasingly erratic.
Prosecutor Richard Jory KC said the pair were 'very angry' and expressed that anger towards the occupants of the other vehicle. Hayley recorded clips of being chased and left a voice message for her mother saying she was afraid. Lovell attempted to signal there were children in the vehicle and offered to go to the Maughans' home to settle the incident, but Owen ignored the plea.
The court heard Owen called Hayley's brother Jason to say he was going to ram the other truck. He then drove in the wrong lane and clipped the back of the car at 60mph, causing it to roll over. Mr Jory described it as a 'deliberate ramming at high speed'. The father and son then drove off, stopping only for Patrick to remove the registration plate.
Little Peter was thrown from the pick-up truck and died from severe injuries to his chest, head and abdomen. His father Lovell suffered serious injuries including a skull fracture and is unlikely to walk again. Owen pleaded guilty to manslaughter, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and inflicting grievous bodily harm, but denies murder. Patrick also denies murder. The trial continues.
