The wife of an “irreplaceable” headteacher who was dragged beneath a car for more than a mile has said her life has been “brutally and callously torn apart” after the driver was convicted of his murder.
asserted
driver → drag → murder
Richardson, 35, drove straight through give way markings at a junction in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, and ploughed into Mr Mullins, who fell on to the bonnet and windscreen before he was dragged beneath the car.
asserted
he → drive → car
The father-of-two became entangled in the suspension of the 4×4 as Richardson drove on, a trial at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard.
asserted
trial → become → Court
Family members in the public gallery were in tears on Friday after Richardson was found guilty of murder.
Mr Mullins’ wife, who asked not to be named, said in a statement: “My past, present and future have been brutally and callously torn apart.
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past → find → statement
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“My memories of being with Michael through the rough and the smooth are now permanently tainted with sadness.
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memories → read → sadness
“There is no one quite like him with his myriad unique qualities that combined to make him mean so much to so many people.
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him → be → people
Mr Mullins’ daughter said: “My dad, Michael, was so many things.
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dad → say → ?
He loved music and was learning to play the guitar.
asserted
He → love → guitar
“He loved to pick us up from the airport after a holiday to be the first to hear about it and growing up would always offer to pick me and my friends up from concerts to make sure we got home.
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we → love → concerts
“I made a promise in those first days that I would live the rest of my life for my dad and give myself the life he had started to see me grow into and wanted for me.
asserted
me → make → me
“I am here telling you all that my dad was and always will be our everything.”
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dad → tell → all
His son said: “He was the type of dad that would show up to everything.
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that → say → everything
“He would drive me to every rugby game on a Sunday and was always there to cheer me on from the sidelines with the same sentiment continuing into my adult life where he would constantly remind (me) of how proud he was of me.
asserted
he → drive → me
“Our last exchange of words together before he dropped me at the station was him reminding me of how proud he was of me.”
asserted
he → drop → me
Prosecutors said Richardson knew that Mr Mullins was trapped inches beneath his feet after the collision in Paddock Lane, Warburton, but chose to drive on.
asserted
Mullins → say → Lane
His passenger and cousin Gabrielle Debotte said they could hear “moaning” before Richardson told her: “He’s under the car.”
uncertain
He → say → car
Phil Barnes KC told jurors that Richardson “knew what the consequences of driving on would be, and he did it anyway”, adding: “He did not do the right thing.
asserted
He → tell → thing
He chose to drive away.
asserted
He → choose → ?
Richardson drove 1.3 miles to a secluded farm track in Wet Gate Lane, Lymm, and twice tried to pull Mr Mullins out before getting back behind the wheel and deliberately swerving from side to side, the court heard.
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court → drive → side
Mr Mullins was eventually released but was driven over as Richardson reversed and drove away.
asserted
Richardson → release → ?
A motorcyclist followed a trail of blood from Paddock Lane and discovered Mr Mullins alone and barely breathing on a grass verge, the court heard.
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court → follow → verge
Richardson denied murder, claiming he did not realise Mr Mullins was underneath his car and said he did not get out of his vehicle in a bid to free him.
He was also found guilty of dangerous driving over a police pursuit the following day before his arrest.
asserted
He → deny → arrest
Richardson, of no fixed address, will be sentenced on Monday.
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Richardson → fix → Monday
Stretford Grammar School previously described Mr Mullins, who had been a “pillar” of the school for 17 years, as a “compassionate leader” and a “source of unwavering support for students and staff alike”.
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who → describe → students
It added in a statement: “He will be remembered not just for his quietly brilliant leadership, but for the kindness he showed to everyone he met.”
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he → add → everyone
Detective Chief Inspector Louise Edwards said Mr Mullins’ family should be “proud of the courage they have shown”.
asserted
they → say → courage
She said: “Whilst this trial was to convict Richardson of his horrific crimes, we cannot and will not forget Michael.
“A man
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we → say → Michael
A man who was simply cycling home from the job he had loved for 17 years – a route he had cycled many times before.
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he → cycle → years
“Richardson chose to take Michael’s life in one of the most horrific ways I have ever seen.”
asserted
I → choose → ways
She added: “Do not remember the offender who has been found guilty of his murder.
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who → add → murder
“Remember Michael – beloved in his community, his school, by his family and friends – a man who should have come home safe and sound to his family but will be remembered forever in the legacy he has left behind.”
asserted
he → remember → legacy
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