JURY CONVICTS SIMON RICHARDSON OF MICHAEL MULLINS'S MURDER

A jury at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court convicted Simon Richardson on Friday of murdering cyclist Michael Mullins. Mullins, the headteacher of Stretford Grammar School, was cycling home from work on 20 April when Richardson’s Volvo XC90 struck him in Warburton, Greater Manchester. The court heard that Richardson drove through give-way markings before the collision. Mullins hit the bonnet and windscreen, then became trapped in the vehicle’s suspension. Richardson drove more than a mile with Mullins beneath the car, jurors heard.

Prosecutor Phil Barnes KC told jurors that Richardson knew Mullins was under the vehicle and understood the consequences of driving on. Richardson denied knowing the cyclist was there. His cousin and front-seat passenger, Gabrielle Debotte, said they both heard “moaning” as he drove away. She testified that Richardson then said: “He’s under the car.” The court heard that Richardson drove 1.3 miles to a secluded farm track in Lymm, where he twice tried to pull Mullins free.

Jurors heard that Richardson returned to the Volvo, steered sharply from side to side and mounted a grass verge. Mullins came free from beneath the vehicle, but Richardson drove over him while reversing and driving away, the court heard. Members of Mullins’s family cried as the jury delivered its verdict. Mrs Justice Brunner KC excused the jurors from further jury service for 10 years. She told them: “This was, I know, an upsetting case and there was evidence which you may have found distressing.”