The short version
- Simon Richardson was convicted of murder and dangerous driving after striking cyclist Michael Mullins and failing to stop immediately.
- Evidence showed Richardson drove off with the victim trapped under his vehicle, later attempting to dislodge him before reversing over him again.
- The court heard that Mullins remained alive during part of the ordeal, contradicting the defendant's claim that he was unaware of the victim's presence.
A British jury has convicted Simon Richardson of murder after finding that he knowingly drove away with a school principal trapped beneath his vehicle, leading to the man’s death. The verdict concludes a trial centered on a fatal incident in Greater Manchester where Michael Mullins, aged 56, was struck by Richardson’s Volvo XC90 while cycling home from work. Prosecutors argued that Richardson fled the initial collision site and continued driving with Mullins lodged under the car for more than a mile, causing fatal injuries through dragging and crushing rather than the initial impact alone.
The incident occurred on the evening of April 20 in the village of Warburton, Trafford. Mullins, who served as head teacher at Stretford Grammar School for seventeen years, was riding his bicycle when Richardson failed to yield at a junction marked with give-way signs. The collision forced Mullins under the wheels of the SUV. According to court testimony, Richardson did not stop immediately to assist or check on the cyclist. Instead, he drove away from the scene, leaving Mullins trapped beneath the vehicle as it moved through local roads.
Richardson eventually stopped in a country lane in Paddock Lane, where he attempted to free the victim. His cousin Gabrielle Debotte, who was riding in the front passenger seat, testified that both occupants heard moaning sounds shortly after the crash. She stated that Richardson acknowledged the situation by saying the victim was under the car. Despite this awareness, Richardson’s actions were described as insufficient and ultimately harmful. He got out of the vehicle twice in attempts to pull Mullins free but failed to do so effectively.
The prosecution presented evidence that Richardson mounted a grass verge with his Volvo, which finally dislodged Mullins from under the chassis. However, before leaving the area, Richardson reversed over the injured man, inflicting severe crushing injuries to his chest. A motorcyclist later discovered Mullins lying alone on a secluded grass verge in Lymm, Cheshire, following a trail of blood. Emergency services arrived at the scene and pronounced Mullins dead shortly thereafter. The distance covered while Mullins was trapped under the vehicle exceeded one mile.
Richardson denied charges of murder, claiming he did not realize Mullins was underneath his car and asserting that his failure to exit the vehicle immediately was not an attempt to abandon the victim. He argued against the notion that he knowingly caused further harm by driving away. However, jurors rejected this defense. Prosecutor Phil Barnes KC told the court that Richardson had a brief moment to consider doing the right thing but chose to escape instead, inevitably knowing the consequences of his actions.
The trial revealed that Richardson was eventually apprehended after a police chase the day following the incident. CCTV footage captured him filling his car with fuel shortly after leaving Mullins for dead, which aided investigators in tracking his movements. The judge, Mrs Justice Brunner KC, noted that there was only one sentence for murder: life imprisonment. She thanked the jurors for their service, acknowledging the distressing nature of the evidence they had reviewed and discharging them from future jury duty for ten years.
Reactions inside the courtroom were visible as the verdict was delivered, with shouts of approval heard from the public gallery. Mullins’ family released a statement describing him as devoted to his loved ones and noting that a significant gap has been left in their lives and within the school community. The case highlights the severe legal consequences for drivers who fail to stop after collisions and instead endanger victims further through negligent or malicious actions.
Richardson will return to Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday for sentencing. In addition to the murder conviction, he was found guilty of dangerous driving. The outcome underscores the court’s stance on accountability in traffic incidents where drivers flee scenes involving serious injury or death. Legal experts note that the distinction between manslaughter and murder often hinges on intent and awareness, factors that the jury determined were present in Richardson’s conduct.
Sources behind this briefing
Go to the original reporting
- BBC News↗Driver guilty of hitting cyclist and dragging him to death under car
