A Manchester jury has heard harrowing details of how a 15-year-old boy was allegedly killed in a fit of 'temper or outrage' when a man deliberately drove his car into the stolen e-bike the teenager was riding. The court was told the actions caused 'unsurvivable' injuries to Devon Simmonds-Caines.
Court Hears Details of Fatal Incident
Devon Simmonds-Caines died on July 22, 2025, after being struck by a 'speeding' Vauxhall Insignia driven by 59-year-old Terrence King, the jury at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court heard. King stands accused of murder, with an alternative charge of manslaughter, which he denies.
Prosecutor Michael Hayton KC told jurors that the collision and Devon's death 'followed the deliberate actions' of the defendant. Shocking video footage played in court showed the moments leading up to the crash, which occurred around 11.55am in Middleton, Greater Manchester.
Video Footage Reveals Chilling Sequence
The footage showed Devon riding the stolen e-bike along Rowrah Crescent before performing a short U-turn and bringing the bike to a stop. Seconds later, the Insignia was seen hurtling up the road.
'The car then mounts the pavement and collides with Devon and the e-bike before smashing through a fence and into the front garden of a house,' Mr Hayton told the court.
He suggested King's actions through 'temper or outrage' came after he made a 'conscious and deliberate decision to drive towards Devon and to steer towards him at speed'. The prosecutor argued the footage showed these actions were 'obviously deliberate' and 'intended to cause, at the very least, serious harm' to the teenager.
Prosecution Highlights Key Factors
Mr Hayton emphasised several significant aspects of the case to the jury:
- King had driven above the 20mph speed limit
- He steered the car to the side of the road where Devon was standing
- Devon had turned round and stopped, and was followed by King
- King did not slow down before the collision
'What else can you possibly intend to cause if you steer a car at considerable speed towards a young boy resting or standing on an electric bike?' Mr Hayton asked the jury.
The prosecutor stated that the 'speed, steering and lack of braking' were crucial factors in the collision, which sent the car crashing through a wall into a nearby home's front garden.
Background to the Tragic Events
The court heard that King had spent the previous evening with his ex-wife before dropping her home the next day. He then learned about the e-bike, which he had purchased himself, after it was stolen from another teenager.
Mr Hayton said the 'expensive' e-bike had attracted attention from local teenagers before being stolen by Devon and an accomplice who 'dragged' another teenager off it. Following the robbery, King set off in search of the bike in his car rather than contacting police.
'Very soon he spotted it being ridden by Devon,' Mr Hayton told jurors. 'The video footage showed that Devon had brought the bike to a stop and wasn't trying to escape - but that 'outraged' King had then made some 'criminally wrong' decisions before causing the collision.'
Defence Anticipated to Challenge Intent
The jury heard that King is anticipated to claim in his defence that he did not intend to cause Devon's injuries or death. King, of Middleton, Greater Manchester, denies both charges against him.
Relatives have paid tribute to Devon Simmonds-Caines following his tragic death. The trial continues at Minshull Street Crown Court as the jury considers the evidence presented in this deeply distressing case.
