Dashcam Footage Shows Car Overtaking Before Alleged Fatal Hit-and-Run

Dashcam footage presented in court appears to show Simon Richardson's Volvo XC90 overtaking another vehicle shortly before allegedly striking and dragging a headteacher under the car for over a mile. The incident is alleged to have occurred on April 20, when Michael Mullins, 56, was cycling home from his position as headteacher at Stretford Grammar School.

Prosecutors at Manchester's Minshull Street Crown Court allege that Richardson did not stop after hitting Mullins but instead accelerated, dragging the victim for approximately 1.3 miles before leaving him on a grass verge. Witnesses described Richardson's vehicle as "absolutely tanking it" toward the junction of Dunham Road and Warburton Lane in Trafford.

Richardson denies charges of murder, as well as alternate charges of manslaughter and dangerous driving. He is currently on trial.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) released a 17-second clip of the incident, recorded by a dashcam in a vehicle following Richardson's. The footage shows Richardson's black Volvo XC90 behind two other cars before moving into the opposite lane to overtake. Investigators also shared an image captured by an ANPR camera, allegedly taken moments after the collision, showing Richardson in the driver's seat of his Volvo. The image appears to show a dent on the front right area of the car's bonnet, and Richardson's driver's side window is fully down.

Evidence presented on the fifth day of the trial included testimony from Dr. Terrence McGloughlin, a consultant in emergency medicine. Dr. McGloughlin stated his opinion that Mullins survived the initial impact, but he could not confirm if the victim was conscious during the dragging. He testified that the cause of death was likely a combination of factors, including multiple traumatic injuries, respiratory failure, and traumatic cardiac arrest. Blood loss, he explained, can lead to hypovolemic shock, reducing blood volume and affecting the circulatory system.

Data from an Apple Watch worn by Mullins was also presented, showing he was physiologically alive after the alleged collision. However, defense counsel questioned the watch's accuracy, particularly regarding readings after Mullins had been pronounced dead, suggesting they could be due to movement of the wrist or the watch being removed. Dr. McGloughlin acknowledged he was not an expert in the watch's data and that there was no heart rate recorded at certain points.

Dr. Chaz Dixon, an expert in navigation and GPS technology, testified about the movement of Gabrielle Debotte's phone, a reported passenger in Richardson's vehicle at the time. The phone's location data showed it moving from the vicinity of the Bulls Head pub to Altrincham and then onto Wet Gate Lane in Lymm. The Apple Watch data for Mullins showed a journey from Stretford Grammar School through various towns towards Lymm. Dr. Dixon noted an unusual 28-second gap in the watch's data, which he attributed as likely resulting from the collision, stating it was highly unusual for data to be missing in that manner without such an event.

The GPS data from both the phone and the watch were consistent with them being together at the junction of Dunham Road and Paddock Lane, briefly stopping at Mill Lane, and then proceeding onto Wet Gate Lane before the phone traveled east, and they parted ways.

Richardson, whose address is listed as no fixed abode but formerly of Epsom Avenue in Sale, continues to deny the charges. The trial is ongoing.