A driver accused of murdering a teenage boy he hit with his car was accused of 'trying to defend the indefensible', a jury has heard. Terrence King, 60, denies murdering 15-year-old Devon Simmonds-Caines. Jurors at Minshull Street Crown Court have heard that King has admitted manslaughter.
Prosecution Alleges Deliberate Act
Prosecutors alleged that King deliberately hit the boy with his car during an incident on Rowrah Crescent in Middleton on July 22 last year. King denied this and claimed he was trying to 'block the bike in', saying he had no intention to harm anyone. At the time of the crash, Devon had been riding a stolen e-bike.
The e-bike had been 'robbed' earlier that day by Devon and another youth, with the owner of the e-bike being 'physically dragged' off it, the court has heard. On the third day of the trial, King took to the witness box to give evidence in his defence.
King's Testimony and Police Interview
Jurors heard that during an interview with police, King 'refused to look at' the footage of the crash. After being asked why, by defence barrister Mukul Chawla KC, King said: “Because Devon had passed away.” King estimated that he had been driving at about 30 to 40mph prior to the crash, which the court heard was about 'twice the speed limit' for the road. The defendant accepted that he didn't brake.
Explaining his actions, King told jurors: “I made the decision to try and block the bike in. I was trying to move behind the bike or the side of the bike.” Asked why he didn't brake, King replied: “I don't know.” The defendant said he did not intend to kill Devon, did not intend to cause him any injury at all and added that he didn't want to damage the bike.
Aftermath and Cross-Examination
Following the crash, King said he did not know what had happened. Jurors heard that he 'collapsed like a sack of potatoes' after initially getting out of the car. Asked why he did so, King said: “Because I saw Devon.” During cross-examination, prosecutor Michael Hayton KC alleged that King had deliberately driven into Devon in order to 'punish him'. “Is that what happened?” Mr Hayton asked. “No,” the defendant replied.
Closing Speeches
Later, Mr Hayton addressed jurors in his closing speech on behalf of the prosecution. Mr Hayton told them that in a police interview, King had said 'I feel like I'm trying to defend the indefensible'. “He is still trying to defend the indefensible,” Mr Hayton claimed.
In his closing speech, Mr Chawla said of the defendant: “He is not a man trying to justify or excuse in any way the fact that he has caused the death of Devon Simmonds-Caines.” Mr Chawla said that after some convictions in King's youth, the defendant has led a 'blameless life' for the last 30 years and is 'effectively of good character'. Mr Chawla told jurors that it 'simply does not fit with the notion that he is a violent man, using his vehicle like a missile'.
Referencing King's comment about 'trying to defend the indefensible', Mr Chawla claimed that it was not an 'admission of guilt', but instead an 'illustration of his candour' and of his 'honesty'. King, of Castlerigg Drive, Middleton, denies murder.
