A lorry driver has been convicted of murder after using his 17-tonne truck to kill a fellow motorist in a road rage attack on the A57 in Cheshire. Mark Slater, 47, from Oldham, deliberately drove over the head of grandfather Trevor Allen, 56, from Salford, on 15 February.
The court heard that Mr Allen had got out of his Citroen Berlingo van and stood in front of Slater's DAF truck. Slater admitted causing the death but claimed he did not see the victim, who was wearing a high-visibility jacket. The prosecution argued that Slater was a 'bully' behind the wheel and that the lorry's tachograph showed it braking sharply before accelerating to 54mph in a 40mph zone.
Slater showed no reaction as the guilty verdict was delivered at Chester Crown Court. He was remanded in custody and faces an automatic life sentence. Mr Allen's family wept in the public gallery, with his sister Muriel Farrell saying, 'I hope he rots in hell.'
The trial heard of two previous road rage incidents involving Slater, including one on the M62 where a motorist described him as a 'raging bull' who threatened to kill him. Another incident, captured on dash cam, showed Slater leaving his cab to kick and punch a car.
Detective Inspector Peter Case of Cheshire Police described the attack as 'truly shocking', adding that nothing justified Slater's behaviour. The jury reached their verdict after three and a half hours of deliberation.
