Driver crashed into grammar school head cycling home before dragging him 'for over a mile' then leaving him dying at the roadside, murder trial told

A headteacher was knocked down as he cycled home from work and then dragged beneath the car for more than a mile, a murder trial has been told.

Michael Mullins, 56, who had been the head of Stretford Grammar School for 17 years, suffered fatal injuries when he became stuck under the wheels of a Volvo SUV on April 20, a court heard.

The driver, Simon Richardson, 35, is accused of murder, with prosecutors telling a jury he was aware Mr Mullins was trapped and risked death or serious injury but 'carried on regardless', speeding at up to 60mph.

At one point he stopped and saw Mr Mullins was still alive – but after unsuccessfully trying to dislodge him he set off again, swerving and mounting a grass verge, the court heard. 

Finally, after the headteacher was thrown clear, Richardson allegedly ran over him again before driving off, leaving him in the road. 

He then stopped to pick up weight-loss medication after going to a petrol station to refuel, jurors were told. 

The victim was treated at the roadside but pronounced dead 40 minutes later. 

Mr Mullins, described as 'fit', was cycling the 19-mile journey home to Weaverham, near Northwich, Cheshire, when he was struck by Richardson's black Volvo XC90 in Altrincham shortly after 6pm.

Headteacher Michael Mullins, 56, was struck by a Volvo driven by Simon Richardson, 35, as he cycled home from work before being dragged for over a mile, a murder trial heard 

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

Richardson failed to stop at a junction and drove straight through give way signs, Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester heard. 

His vehicle struck Mr Mullins from the left, with CCTV capturing the sound of the collision, throwing him from his damaged bicycle.

Eye-witnesses stopped, the jury heard, but Richardson chose to drive on in his badly damaged car, 'knowing' he was to 'blame' for what happened.

Opening the case, Phil Barnes KC, prosecuting, said Mr Mullins was then 'crushed to death' after being dragged more than a mile and a quarter.

He told jurors that 'for a significant proportion of that journey, Simon Richardson knew that Michael Mullins was there beneath his car - trapped and injured, but alive'.

'He knew what he was doing by driving off would kill Michael Mullins or cause him the gravest of injuries and yet he drove on anyway,' he added.

Richardson allegedly fled the scene of the crash at more than 60mph – twice the 30mph speed limit – after Mr Mullins' foot became trapped under the Volvo's front wheels.

Graphic CCTV footage played to the jury showed how the headteacher was allegedly 'dragged to his death'.

He allegedly stopped at one point and saw that Mr Mullins was 'still alive' under his car, making 'concerted efforts' to dislodge him by turning the steering wheel.

Richardson stopped for around 90 seconds in a quiet country road, at which point data from Mr Mullins' watch showed he was still alive.

This was not an attempt to help Mr Mullins but an effort to leave him at the side of the road 'to die if that's what it came to', Mr Barnes alleged.

When his efforts failed, Richardson got back in the driver's seat and drove off while Mr Mullins remained trapped underneath the Volvo.

Further CCTV footage showed the car veering from side to side and mounting a grass verge near a farm.

It was here, Mr Barnes said, that Mr Mullins was finally dislodged from beneath the Volvo, with the car driving over him 'at least' once.

A motorcyclist found Mr Mullins lying on a grass verge in Lymm, Cheshire.

He was still breathing but 'barely alive', and although he was treated by paramedics he was declared dead at the roadside 40 minutes after the collision.

Mr Mullins died from multiple injuries caused by being dragged along the road rather than the original collision, the court heard.

Meanwhile, Richardson allegedly then drove to a petrol station where his cousin, Gabrielle Debotte, who had been in the front seat throughout, could be seen with her head in her hands, the court heard.

After filling up he is said to have collected weight-loss medication from a clinic in the village before driving to Ms Debotte's house. 

Richardson was aware he was dragging Mr Mullins beneath his car, causing him death or severe injury, but 'carried on regardless,' Mr Barnes said.

He said Mr Mullins was dragged for over four minutes, a distance of more than a mile and a third.

His side window was open, meaning he would have heard 'everything' going on, the prosecution alleges.  

Afterwards, the jury heard Richardson swapped his Volvo for a silver van and allegedly attempted to 'concoct' a story to cover his tracks.

But Ms Debotte, who is due to appear as a prosecution witness, 'broke down' at the nursery where she worked the next day and went to police and told them what happened, the court heard.

Richardson was later arrested when police pursued the Ford Transit van he had acquired, allegedly driving 'dangerously' and at speed.

When interviewed, he declined to answer any questions put to him.

Richardson, of no fixed address, denies alternate charges of murder and manslaughter as well as dangerous driving.