The grandmother of a four-year-old boy allegedly murdered when his parents' truck was deliberately rammed in a high-speed hit-and-run has described her panic during the pursuit. Erica Maughan told Maidstone Crown Court she exchanged frantic WhatsApp voice notes with her daughter Hayley on the evening of June 1 last year.
Hayley Mahon, her husband Lovell, and their two children Peter and Annarica were being chased along the A2 in their Ford Ranger Wildtrak by another Wildtrak driven by Owen Maughan, with his father Patrick in the passenger seat. Hayley sent voice notes and videos to her mother, saying the chasing vehicle was 'driving on top of us' and trying to ram them.
Mrs Maughan initially urged her daughter to drive home to Southfleet, hoping they would be safe. However, as the pursuit continued, she became increasingly panicked. In a voice note, she told them to 'ram them', later explaining: 'I was so panicked I didn't really know what I was saying.'
Hayley responded that their truck was 'all we have' and they could not afford another. She also revealed her son Peter had removed his seatbelt. Mrs Maughan then urged them to 'pull in and jump out'. The fatal collision occurred at 9.26pm on New Barn Road, Southfleet, where the family's truck was rammed at an estimated 60mph, causing it to roll multiple times.
Peter died at the scene. Owen and Patrick Maughan are on trial for his murder. The trial continues.
