Driver Accused of Killing Headteacher Allegedly Filled Up With Petrol After Dragging Cyclist 1.3 Miles Beneath His Volvo

Simon Richardson, 35, was captured on CCTV filling his Volvo XC90 with petrol shortly after allegedly striking headteacher Michael Mullins and dragging him beneath the vehicle for 1.3 miles.

Footage shown at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court showed Richardson standing against his dented car while refuelling, wearing black clothing with his hood pulled over his head.

He appeared to stare blankly at the petrol pump before pulling his hood further down to cover his face as he passed security cameras.

An image released by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) also showed Richardson behind the wheel of the Volvo shortly after the collision.

The vehicle had visible damage to the front-right side of its bonnet, while the driver’s window appeared to be fully open.

Richardson is accused of murdering Mr Mullins, 56, who was cycling home from Stretford Grammar School on April 20.

Prosecutors Say Driver Continued Despite Knowing Cyclist Was Under Car

The prosecution alleges that Richardson drove at speed through give-way markings at a junction in Warburton, Altrincham, before colliding with Mr Mullins.

According to the prosecution, the headteacher became trapped beneath the Volvo and was dragged along the road for approximately 1.3 miles.

Richardson is accused of continuing to drive despite knowing that Mr Mullins was underneath his vehicle.

The court previously heard that Richardson stopped on a nearby country lane for around 90 seconds and attempted unsuccessfully to free the cyclist.

He then returned to the driver’s seat and continued driving.

Prosecutors allege that Richardson subsequently swerved sharply from side to side before mounting a grass verge near a farm in Lymm, Cheshire, and driving over Mr Mullins, dislodging him from beneath the vehicle.

Witness Finds Injured Headteacher on Grass Verge

Mr Mullins, who lived in Northwich, Cheshire, was discovered on Wet Gate Lane, approximately 2.2 kilometres from the original collision site on Paddock Lane.

Witness Andrew Besant-Roberts told the court that he noticed an unusual trail on the road before realising it was blood.

He said: “I very quickly noticed a strange trail on the road. I didn’t know what it was initially, but I thought it was suspicious. As I followed the trail, it suddenly occurred to me that it was blood.”

Mr Besant-Roberts said the trail weaved from left to right for a couple of hundred yards before he spotted a cyclist lying on the grass verge.

He described Mr Mullins as unconscious and lying on his side in a position resembling the recovery position, but said he could see that the cyclist was still breathing.

The witness called 999, but Mr Mullins’ condition deteriorated. Mr Besant-Roberts attempted chest compressions while waiting for emergency services to arrive.

Despite the efforts to save him, Mr Mullins was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.50pm, approximately 40 minutes after the collision.

Cousin Says She Warned Richardson About Cyclist

Gabrielle Debotte, 27, Richardson’s cousin, was travelling in the front passenger seat of the Volvo when the collision occurred.

Giving evidence on Wednesday, she told the court that Richardson had been driving at considerable speed before reaching the junction.

She said she told him to slow down, but he smirked and replied: “I’m a professional driver.”

Ms Debotte said she noticed Mr Mullins on his bicycle as they approached the junction and shouted “bike” three times because Richardson was not stopping.

According to her testimony, Richardson failed to slow down and struck the cyclist.

She said she realised Mr Mullins had gone underneath the Volvo because he was no longer visible on the road.

Ms Debotte told the court that Richardson stopped for only a split second before driving away.

She said she urged him to get out of the vehicle because it was the right thing to do.

Passenger Describes Hearing Sounds From Beneath Volvo

Ms Debotte said Richardson drove erratically after the collision, swerving from side to side with his window down.

She told the jury that she could hear noises coming from beneath the vehicle and repeatedly urged him to stop.

When she heard what she described as moaning, she told Richardson: “He’s under the car.”

She said he did not respond and continued driving.

Ms Debotte described Richardson’s subsequent attempts to free Mr Mullins during the stop on the country lane.

She said he struggled to release the headteacher and moved the steering wheel while attempting to manoeuvre the vehicle.

Asked by prosecutor Phil Barnes KC how she felt during the incident, she replied: “Shocked, scared. I’ve never seen anything like that in my life.”

She added that she still had visions of what happened.

Ms Debotte said she realised Mr Mullins had finally been freed when she saw him lying in the road, with one arm moving slightly.

She told the court that she was screaming and crying, while Richardson was also crying and panicking.

Medical Evidence Examines Headteacher’s Condition

Consultant in emergency medicine Dr Terence McLoughlin gave evidence about whether Mr Mullins could have survived the initial collision.

He told the court that, based on the evidence presented, Mr Mullins had survived the initial impact.

The jury also heard evidence from an Apple Watch worn by the headteacher.

The device recorded a heartbeat at the point when he was released from beneath the Volvo.

Dr McLoughlin said the watch data supported the conclusion that Mr Mullins was still physiologically alive at that moment.

However, the medical expert said he could not determine whether the headteacher was conscious or unconscious while being dragged beneath the vehicle.

Richardson Refuels Before Collecting Medication

After Mr Mullins was dislodged from the Volvo, Richardson and Ms Debotte drove to a petrol station, where CCTV recorded him refuelling the car.

The pair subsequently collected weight-loss medication for Ms Debotte.

She admitted that she did not call 999, explaining that she had never experienced a situation like the one she had witnessed and was in shock.

The court previously heard that Richardson later exchanged the Volvo for a silver Ford Transit van.

He and a friend, Daniel Richards, subsequently visited Ms Debotte’s home, where they allegedly attempted to devise an account of the incident.

Ms Debotte said Richards tried to persuade her to lie about having been with Richardson in the Volvo. She told the court that she decided doing so would make matters worse.

She said she eventually asked both men to leave her home, prompting Richardson to become angry and punch a hole in a wall.

Ms Debotte also testified that she heard the pair laughing, joking, drinking her father’s alcohol and playing music downstairs while she struggled to sleep upstairs.

The following day, she broke down at the nursery where she worked and disclosed what had happened before going to the police.

Police Pursuit Ends With Richardson Arrested

Jurors on Tuesday watched dashcam footage of a police pursuit involving Richardson in a silver Ford Transit van in Failsworth, Greater Manchester, on April 21, the day after the fatal collision.

The van was followed to William Street, where it briefly stopped before accelerating away as officers approached.

In a statement read to the court, PC Gerard Elliott said he heard the van’s tyres squealing as it turned into an alleyway and continued towards Oldham Road.

A pursuit followed through residential streets. PC Elliott said he reached speeds of 50mph but was unable to close the distance between his vehicle and the van.

The Transit eventually stopped on Co-operation Street because another vehicle blocked its path, the court heard.

Richardson then jumped out and attempted to escape on foot before officers apprehended him shortly afterwards.

Inspector Tom Abbott, another officer involved in the pursuit, told the court that the van’s driver showed no consideration for the safety of other motorists and pedestrians.

Defence Challenges Passenger’s Account of Collision

During cross-examination, defence barrister Jamie Hamilton KC questioned Ms Debotte’s account of warning Richardson about the cyclist.

Mr Hamilton suggested that she had not repeatedly shouted “bike” as she later claimed in court.

Ms Debotte maintained that she had issued the warning.

She also said she felt the Volvo jolt during the collision and insisted that Richardson knew Mr Mullins was trapped beneath the vehicle.

The defence challenged her evidence on that point, with Mr Hamilton noting that she had not mentioned in her earlier police statements that Richardson knew the cyclist was underneath the car.

Ms Debotte maintained her account during questioning.

Richardson Denies Murder and Dangerous Driving

The jury previously watched CCTV footage allegedly showing Richardson driving erratically in the moments before the collision.

A witness reportedly described the Volvo as “absolutely tanking it” before it overtook other vehicles on the approach to the junction of Dunham Road and Paddock Lane.

Richardson denies murdering Mr Mullins and has also pleaded not guilty to the alternative charge of manslaughter.

He has further denied an offence of dangerous driving.

The trial continues.