Murder trial jury deliberates over Accrington car death of Matthew Weller
Jurors at Preston Crown Court are deciding whether Muhammed Haarith, 23, is guilty of murder after he struck and killed Matthew Weller with a VW Passat in Accrington.
Jury weighs murder charge in Accrington car-strike death
Jurors at Preston Crown Court retired on Thursday to consider whether a Lancashire man who admits killing a pedestrian with his car is guilty of murder, bbc.co.uk reports.
Muhammed Haarith, 23, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Matthew Weller, 44, who was struck by a Volkswagen Passat on Blackburn Road in Accrington town centre after 22:00 BST on 22 April. The question before the jury is whether Haarith intended to kill Weller or cause him really serious harm — the threshold that separates murder from manslaughter.
Judge Robert Altham sent jurors out following a four-day trial and closing speeches from both prosecution and defence counsel.
Prosecution: deliberate act, then a cover-up
Prosecutor Tim Evans KC told the court that Haarith became angry during an encounter with Weller on Blackburn Road. Jurors heard Weller had shouted at Haarith and his friends before pulling down his trousers and rubbing his bare buttocks on the bonnet of the defendant's car.
Evans said Haarith then chose to turn the wheel and drive over Weller, dragging him beneath the vehicle. He argued that Haarith's behaviour in the aftermath — destroying his mobile phone, dropping it into a gutter and concealing the car — showed "calculation to look after himself" rather than a panic response.
The prosecution also relied on Snapchat videos from an earlier incident involving Weller, which it said demonstrated Haarith's "contempt" for the victim.
Defence: panic, not intent
Barrister Christopher Moran urged jurors to consider the evidence as more consistent with manslaughter. He described the Snapchat material as "childish conduct" and argued it did not establish that Haarith intended to kill or seriously harm Weller.
Moran said there was "no smoking gun" proving the defendant's state of mind at the moment of impact. He told the court Haarith had accepted responsibility for unlawfully killing Weller, handing himself in to police the following day and admitting he had been at the wheel. Haarith denied intending to kill or injure Weller, saying he continued driving out of "panic" because he did not want the car's wheels to remain on top of the victim.
Judge's directions
Summing up, Judge Altham reminded jurors that Haarith had no previous convictions or cautions and was entitled to be treated as a man of good character. He told the panel the central question was whether the prosecution had proved, to the point of certainty, that Haarith intended to kill Weller or cause him really serious harm.
The jury retired shortly after 15:00 BST. Deliberations are due to resume at 10:00 BST on Friday. No verdicts have yet been returned.
Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)