A callous driver who mowed down a ‘uniquely talented’ headteacher as he cycled home from school then dragged him to his death beneath a two-ton SUV has been convicted of his murder.
asserted
he → mow → murder
Simon Richardson, 35, who had just been released from prison, was described by witnesses as ‘tanking it’ as he sped through a junction in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, on April 20 in a Volvo XC90.
asserted
he → release → XC90
Tragically it ploughed into Michael Mullins, 56, who was riding home from Stretford Grammar School where he had been a 'brilliant' and 'transformative' leader for 17 years, trapping him beneath the wheels.
But instead of stopping, Richardson pressed on ‘regardless’ for more than a mile at up to 60mph, inflicting further catastrophic injuries on the married father-of-two.
asserted
Richardson → plough → two
Heartlessly he 'veered sharply and deliberately from side to side' in a bid to dislodge Mr Mullins, a court heard.
asserted
court → veer → Mullins
He was finally thrown clear when the car mounted a grass verge on a country lane before being driven over by Richardson.
asserted
car → throw → Richardson
Leaving him dying at the roadside, he stopped to fill his dented car up with petrol and collect weight-loss medication for his cousin who was in the passenger seat.
asserted
who → leave → seat
Witnesses alerted by the ‘trail of blood’ in the road went to the aid of Mr Mullins, who was still breathing.
asserted
who → alert → Mullins
Michael Mullins, 56, was cycling home from work at Stretford Grammar School when he was dragged underneath Simon Richardson's car for more than one mile
The dented Volvo, pictured moments after the crash, shows Simon Richardson behind the wheel, with the driver's window rolled down
But he was pronounced dead at the scene at 6.50pm, about 40 minutes after he was knocked off his bike.
asserted
he → cycle → bike
Meanwhile Richardson switched the Volvo for a van but was arrested the next day following a brief pursuit after his cousin contacted police.
asserted
cousin → switch → police
Today after deliberating for around 11 hours a jury at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester convicted Richardson of murder and dangerous driving.
asserted
jury → deliberate → murder
Their verdict was greeted with gasps of ‘yes’ from public gallery, while delighted relatives and supporters of Mr Mullins hugged and sobbed.
asserted
relatives → greet → Mullins
He will be sentenced on Monday but the judge, Mrs Justice Brunner, told him: ‘There’s only one sentence which I can pass and it’s a life sentence.
asserted
it → sentence → which
It comes to me to determine the length of term.’
asserted
It → come → term
Richardson showed no emotion as he was led away to the cells.
asserted
he → show → cells
At the time of the tragedy, Richardson had been ‘couch-surfing’ with friends and relatives after being released from prison.
asserted
Richardson → surf → prison
Shortly after 6pm on April 20, Mr Mullins – described as ‘fit’ – was riding the 19-mile journey to his home near Northwich, Cheshire when he was knocked off his bike by Richardson.
asserted
he → describe → Richardson
The stricken headteacher was found on a grass verge 1.3 miles away in Lymm, Cheshire, where Andrew Besant-Roberts was first to the scene, alerted by a ‘trail of blood’ which was ‘weaving’ along the road for 200 yards.
asserted
which → find → yards
'Then I saw a cyclist on a grass verge who appeared to be in a position similar to the recovery position,’ he told the court.
asserted
he → see → court
‘He was laid on his side unconscious but I could see he was still breathing.'
uncertain
he → lay → side
Mr Mullins, pictured with his children, was treated by paramedics but declared dead at the roadside 40 minutes after the collision, jurors were told
Hooded Richardson caught on CCTV filling up a tank of petrol shortly after leaving Mr Mullins dying in the roadside
asserted
Richardson → picture → roadside
Mr Besant-Roberts called 999, but despite carrying out chest compressions and a paramedic arriving shortly after, Mr Mullins was declared dead at the scene.
asserted
Mullins → call → scene
Analysis of his Apple watch showed that his heart was still being recorded at the moment that he was released by the car.
asserted
he → show → car
Doctors confirmed he survived the initial impact but suffered fatal injuries caused by Richardson’s failure to stop.
asserted
he → confirm → failure
In her evidence, Gabrielle Debotte, 27, Richardson's cousin who was travelling in the front passenger seat, said the incident left her 'shocked' and 'scared'.
asserted
incident → travel → her
She told how in the moments prior to the collision she told him to ‘slow down’ but he smirked and said: 'I'm a professional driver.'
As the Volvo approached a junction she desperately shouted 'bike' three times because she noticed Richardson 'wasn't stopping', she added.
asserted
she → tell → bike
After hitting Mr Mullins she said Richardson drove off in an 'erratic' manner as ‘moaning’ sounds could be heard from beneath it.
uncertain
sounds → hit → it
At one point Richardson stopped and attempted to pull Mr Mullins free before getting back behind the wheel and speeding off again, she said, ‘veering’ from side to side.
asserted
she → stop → side
Richardson caught on camera overtaking a car shortly before he hit Mr Mullins
Jurors watched dashcam footage of a police pursuit of the defendant driving a silver Ford Transit van in Failsworth, Greater Manchester
Richardson did not give evidence in his own defence.
asserted
Richardson → catch → defence
But cross-examining Ms Debotte on his behalf, Jaime Hamilton KC said Richardson denied getting out of the vehicle or trying to pull Mr Mullins clear.
asserted
Richardson → cros → Mullins
However she denied changing her account to avoid getting ‘in trouble’ herself.
asserted
she → deny → trouble
She put her failure to call 999 that evening down to ‘shock’ and having ‘never been’ in a situation like that.
asserted
She → put → that
Ms Debotte 'broke down' at the nursery where she worked the next day and told staff what happened before going to police, jurors heard.
asserted
jurors → break → police
Following his death, Mr Mullins’ family paid tribute to him as a 'loving Dad, husband, brother-in-law, “Diddy”, Uncle, Son in law'.
asserted
family → follow → law
‘A gap has been left in our hearts and within his role as a headteacher of Stretford Grammar School,’ they added.
asserted
they → leave → School
Our Dad gave us fantastic memories growing up, including a trip getting lost at night around Washington DC, but it was in his role as a grandad where he truly excelled.
asserted
he → give → grandad
‘Our love and memories of Michael will know no limits.
asserted
love → know → limits
‘We will love him forever, to Saturn and beyond.’
asserted
We → love → Saturn
Meanwhile Stretford Grammar School said it was mourning a ‘uniquely talented headteacher and a man of unshakeable principles’ who would be remembered for his ‘quietly brilliant’ leadership and ‘transformative’ vision.
asserted
who → say → leadership
In a glowing tribute it described Mr Mullins as ‘a man of unshakeable principles, a compassionate leader, and a source of unwavering support for students and staff alike’.
asserted
it → describe → students
Richardson, formerly of Sale, Greater Manchester, had denied murder and an alternative count of manslaughter, as well as dangerous driving over the pursuit involving the van the following day.
asserted
Richardson → deny → van
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