A 4×4 driver who struck a headteacher cycling home from school and deliberately drove on for more than a mile while the victim was trapped under his vehicle has been found guilty of murder.
Simon Richardson, 35, was convicted today at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court for the brutal killing of 56-year-old Michael Mullins. Mr. Mullins, a respected headteacher at Stretford Grammar School in Manchester, was cycling home on April 20 when Richardson’s Volvo XC90 collided with him.
Rather than stopping to render aid, jurors heard that Richardson “put his foot down and fled the scene” at speeds exceeding 60mph. Mr. Mullins remained entangled in the vehicle’s suspension as the car continued for 1.3 miles, leaving a trail of blood leading to a remote grass verge in Lymm, Cheshire.
During the trial, prosecutor Phil Barnes KC argued that Richardson was fully aware that the cyclist was trapped beneath him. “Simon Richardson knew he was there and he inevitably knew what the consequences of driving on would be, and he did it anyway,” Barnes told the court. The jury heard that Richardson’s passenger, Gabrielle Debotte, specifically recalled hearing moans from outside the car and heard the driver state, “He’s under the car.”
Rather than seeking help, Richardson drove to a secluded farm track in a desperate attempt to dislodge the victim, who was described by the prosecution as the “single, solid piece of evidence” of the crime. After maneuvering the car violently to throw Mr. Mullins from the undercarriage, Richardson ultimately drove over him as he reversed away from the scene.
Richardson denied the charge of murder, claiming he was unaware that Mr. Mullins was beneath the vehicle and failing to explain why he did not stop. He was also found guilty of a separate charge of dangerous driving stemming from a police pursuit that occurred the day following the tragedy.
Following the verdict, the family of Mr. Mullins—a married father of two—expressed their profound grief in a statement. “He was devoted to his family and our lives will never be the same. A gap has been left in our hearts and within his role as a headteacher,” they said.
Mrs. Justice Brunner commended the jury for their service in what she described as a “distressing” case, discharging them from further jury duty for a decade. The judge is set to sentence Richardson to life imprisonment this coming Monday, at which point the minimum term he must serve before becoming eligible for parole will be determined.
The case has sent shockwaves through the local community, where Mr. Mullins had served as headteacher for 17 years. Richardson, of no fixed address, remains in custody ahead of Monday’s sentencing.
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