Norwich murder trial: David Morgan denies using car as weapon against cyclist
David Morgan, 40, says he meant only to intimidate cyclist Richard Smith, 50, who died three days after being knocked off his bike in Norwich.
Norwich murder trial: defendant says he meant to intimidate, not kill cyclist
David Morgan told jurors he was "95% certain" his car had not struck cyclist Richard Smith — and denied prosecutors' claims that he used his Mercedes sports car "as a weapon", bbc.co.uk reports.
Richard Smith, 50, died in hospital three days after being knocked off his bicycle while cycling home from work in Norwich on 8 May. Morgan, 40, of George Winter Court, Norwich, is standing trial at Norwich Crown Court for murder, though he has already pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
On the fifth day of the trial, Morgan told the jury he had been "annoyed" after Smith made contact with his car while they were both in Chartwell Road. He said he attempted to swerve in front of the cyclist but "misjudged his timing".
"I had no intention of getting him, I just wanted to annoy him," Morgan said. He added that he had "no intention of hitting or hurting" Smith and only "wanted to intimidate him."
Morgan said he did not stop at the scene because he was "95% certain" his car had not made contact with Smith. His two children were passengers in the vehicle at the time.
He also told the court his emotions were running high that day because he was due to attend a funeral for a close family member the following morning, and admitted he had consumed five or six pints of beer.
Prosecuting counsel Charles Myatt challenged Morgan over at least seven or eight differing accounts he had given since the incident, asking directly whether he had "lied." One of those accounts was captured on CCTV shortly after the collision, in a conversation believed to be with his father, in which Morgan could be heard saying he had swerved "into him" after becoming angry that Smith had struck his car.
In subsequent phone calls with police, while officers were attempting to locate him, Morgan said: "I ain't done nothing wrong, I do not see why I should be hounded by the Old Bill."
When pressed on the inconsistencies in his various accounts, Morgan also stated he had been "under the influence of drugs." Earlier in the proceedings, the court had heard that he tested positive for cocaine at the roadside when arrested.
For the defence, Josh Normanton read out a written statement from Morgan's deceased older brother, Steven Morgan, recorded before his death in July. In it, Steven Morgan recalled a phone conversation with David Morgan immediately after the incident, in which David had asked whether he would "get into trouble" and described "swerving at [Smith] and he fell off."
CCTV footage shown during the trial placed Morgan at the Sole and Heel pub in Rackheath for several hours before the collision on 8 May. The trial continues.
Source: Google News UK — Crime (en)