Driver Found Guilty of Murdering Head Teacher After Dragging Him Under Car

A man has been found guilty of murdering a head teacher who was dragged for more than a mile while trapped underneath a car after being struck by the vehicle.

Simon Richardson crashed into 56-year-old Michael Mullins, who was cycling home from his job at Stretford Grammar School on the evening of 20 April. The incident happened in the village of Warburton, in Trafford, Greater Manchester.

Prosecutors told the court that Richardson, 35, initially drove away from the scene before stopping and attempting to free the seriously injured cyclist, who was still alive at the time. However, instead of seeking help, he continued driving with Mr Mullins trapped underneath his vehicle.

Richardson was also found guilty of dangerous driving. He is due to return to Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday for sentencing.

There were loud shouts of "Yes!" from members of the public sitting in the court's gallery when the guilty verdict for murder was announced. Several others were also heard crying following the decision.

The judge, Mrs Justice Brunner KC, told Richardson that murder carries only one possible sentence: life imprisonment.

Following the verdict, Mr Mullins' family released a deeply emotional statement describing him as "an anchor", "the perfect dad" and "our everything".

His widow said that her entire life had been destroyed by the incident.

"My past, present and future have been brutally and callously torn apart," she said.

She added that the memories of the happy and difficult moments she had shared with Michael were now permanently overshadowed by sadness.

Mr Mullins' son also paid tribute to his father, describing him as someone who never missed an opportunity to be there for his children.

He said: "Our last exchange of words together before he dropped me at the station was him reminding me of how proud he was of me."

His daughter also spoke about the promise she made to herself during the first few days following her father's death.

She said she had promised to spend the rest of her life making her father proud by building the future he had hoped to see for her.

"I am here telling you all that my Dad was and always will be our everything," she added.

The court heard that Richardson, who has no fixed address, had driven through give-way markings at a junction in Warburton before hitting Mr Mullins, a father of two, who became trapped underneath the Volvo XC90.

After the collision, Richardson continued driving before eventually stopping on a country lane. He reportedly got out of the vehicle twice and attempted to pull Mr Mullins from underneath it, the jury was told.

Richardson then drove onto the grass verge in an attempt to dislodge the cyclist. He eventually freed Mr Mullins but reversed over him in the process, causing severe crushing injuries to his chest.

Richardson's cousin, Gabrielle Debotte, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, had previously told the court that both of them heard someone "moaning" shortly after the collision on Paddock Lane.

She said Richardson subsequently told her: "He is under the car."

Prosecutors argued that Mr Mullins' fatal injuries were caused by being dragged and crushed beneath the vehicle rather than by the initial collision itself.

During the trial, prosecutor Phil Barnes KC told the jury that Richardson knew the cyclist was trapped underneath his car and understood the likely consequences of continuing to drive.

He said Richardson had a brief opportunity to make the right decision immediately after the collision by getting out of the vehicle, accepting responsibility and helping the man he had struck.

However, instead of doing so, Richardson chose to drive away.

The prosecutor argued that Richardson's decision was motivated by his desire to escape the consequences of the collision.

A motorcyclist later followed a trail of blood and discovered Mr Mullins lying alone on a grass verge in a secluded country lane in Lymm, Cheshire.

The head teacher was barely breathing when he was found. Emergency services arrived shortly afterwards but pronounced him dead at the scene.

Richardson was arrested the following day after being involved in a police pursuit.

During the trial, he denied murdering Mr Mullins. He claimed he had not realised the cyclist was trapped underneath his vehicle and also rejected the suggestion that he had got out of the car to try to free him.

However, the jury rejected his account and found him guilty of murder.

Following the verdict, Mrs Justice Brunner KC thanked the jury members and acknowledged that dealing with the case could not have been easy.

She formally excused them from serving on another jury for the next 10 years.

Addressing the jurors, the judge said the case had been deeply upsetting and that some of the evidence presented during the trial may have been distressing for them.