Terrence King, a 60-year-old driver, has been found guilty of murder for deliberately mowing down 15-year-old Devon Simmonds-Caines, who was riding a stolen e-bike. The incident occurred on Rowrah Crescent in Langley, Middleton, on July 22 last year. King, of Castlerigg Drive, Middleton, now faces a life sentence, with sentencing to be determined at a later date.
Fatal Collision at Double the Speed Limit
King struck Devon at almost double the speed limit, causing catastrophic injuries that proved fatal. The court heard that King's vehicle showed no brake lights before the impact. Devon was pronounced dead at the scene at 12:20pm. Prosecutor Michael Hayton KC stated that Devon's death was 'caused by the deliberate actions of the defendant Terence King who, in temper or outrage', made a 'conscious and deliberate decision to drive towards Devon and to steer towards him at speed and to collide with him'.
King's Defense and Retrial
King initially stood trial in January, but jurors were deadlocked and could not reach a verdict. After the jury was discharged, King pleaded guilty to manslaughter. However, a retrial resulted in a murder conviction. In his defense, King claimed he only intended to 'block in' the bike and had no intention of harming the teen. He estimated his speed at 30-40 mph, about twice the speed limit for the road, and admitted he did not brake. When asked why, he replied, 'I don't know.' Following the crash, King said he collapsed after seeing Devon.
Background of the Incident
The e-bike Devon was riding had been stolen earlier that day. Devon and another youth had 'robbed' the bike, physically dragging the owner off it. King, upon seeing Devon on the stolen bike, became enraged and took matters into his own hands rather than contacting the police.
Family's Tribute and Reaction
Devon's family, present in the public gallery, let out loud screams after the verdict. In a tribute, they described Devon as 'an outgoing, bubbly person who always kept himself motivated even when he didn’t want to be. Devon loved everyone who loved him and showed respect to everyone who respected him. He wasn’t afraid to speak his mind and only wanted the best for everyone around him. When he would love, he would love really hard. He wasn’t a show-off kid and kept himself to himself.' They expressed gratitude for community support and asked for peace to remember Devon calmly.
Prosecutor and CPS Statements
Prosecutor Michael Hayton KC noted that Devon's injuries were 'unsurvivable'. Sobia Ahmed of the Crown Prosecution Service said: 'Terrence King was enraged when he saw Devon Simmonds-Caines on the stolen e-bike. Rather than contacting the police, King deliberately took matters into his own hands and drove directly at Devon, at speed, with fatal consequences. He claimed that he had no intention to hit the teenager, but this was rejected by the jury when they found him guilty of murder. Devon was a 15-year-old boy with his whole life ahead of him. My thoughts are with Devon’s parents who must bear this unimaginable loss.'
