By ELIZABETH HAIGH, SENIOR NEWS REPORTER
Published: | Updated:
A motorist accused of murdering a cyclist by hitting him and dragging him along underneath his car for more than a mile fled from police looking to arrest him the following day, video played in court shows.
Simon Richardson, 35, is accused of the murder of headteacher Michael Mullins, 56, as he pedalled home from work at Stretford Grammar School on April 20.
Footage played to jurors at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court showed Richardson leaping out of a van and making off on foot from officers in pursuit the day after the crash.
He is said to have driven at speed through give way markers at a junction in Warburton, Altrincham, and into the path of Mr Mullins, who was dragged underneath his Volvo XC90 for 1.3 miles.
Prosecutors accuse Richardson of murder because they say he knew married father-of-two Mr Mullins was beneath the wheels of his vehicle but drove on anyway.
It is alleged he later travelled to a country lane in Lymm, Cheshire, and 'veered sharply and deliberately from side to side' before he mounted a grass verge and drove over Mr Mullins, who was finally dislodged.
Mr Mullins, from Northwich, Cheshire, was found still breathing in Wet Gate Lane – 2.2km from the collision in Paddock Lane – but was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.50pm, about 40 minutes after he was knocked off his bike.
On Tuesday, jurors watched dashcam footage of a police pursuit of the defendant driving a silver Ford Transit van in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, on April 21.
Simon Richardson, 35, is accused of the murder of headteacher Michael Mullins, 56, as he peddled home from work - he then fled police during a pursuit the following day (pictured)
Michael Mullins was killed as he cycled home from Stretford Grammar School on April 20
On Tuesday, jurors watched dashcam footage of a police pursuit of the defendant driving a silver Ford Transit van in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, on April 21
Alleged murderer Richardson was caught on camera overtaking a car before he is said to have hit Mr Mullins and dragged him under his vehicle. Footage of the moments before the crash were previously released
Mr Mullins, pictured with his children as a younger man, was treated by paramedics but declared dead at the roadside 40 minutes after the collision, jurors were told
The van was followed to William Street where it briefly stopped and then sped off as officers approached.
In a statement read to the court PC Gerard Elliott said he heard 'tyres squealing' as the van took off and turned left into an alleyway and on to Oldham Road.
A pursuit followed in densely populated residential streets as PC Elliott said he reached speeds of 50mph but was 'not gaining on the Transit van'.
The van came to a stop in nearby Co-operation Street due to another vehicle blocking its path, said the officer, and the suspect ran off before he was apprehended shortly after, the court heard.
Another officer involved in the pursuit, Inspector Tom Abbott, told the court: 'The [van] driver showed no consideration for the safety of other drivers and pedestrians.'
Last week jurors saw CCTV footage of Richardson allegedly driving 'erratically' in the moments before the fatal collision.
His Volvo was said to be 'absolutely tanking it' by a witness before he overtook cars on the approach to the junction of Dunham Road and Paddock Lane, the court heard.
Richardson denies murder and an alternative count of manslaughter.
He has also pleaded not guilty to an offence of dangerous driving.
The trial continues.