Murder Trial Hears of Mile-Long Blood Trail Leading to Mowed-Down Headteacher

A murder trial has heard that a trail of blood more than a mile long led to a dying headteacher who was struck and dragged beneath a car. Michael Mullins, 56, suffered fatal injuries after being hit by a black Volvo XC90 as he cycled home from Stretford Grammar School in Manchester on the evening of April 20.

Prosecutors allege that Simon Richardson, 35, drove at speed through give-way markers at a junction in Warburton, Altrincham, and plowed into Mr. Mullins. They accuse Richardson of murder, contending he knew Mr. Mullins was trapped beneath his vehicle but deliberately accelerated to speeds of up to 60 mph, leaving a significant trail of blood.

A motorcyclist, Andrew Besant-Roberts, discovered Mr. Mullins lying on a grass verge in Lymm, Cheshire, approximately two kilometers from the initial collision. He reported noticing a suspicious trail on the road, which he soon identified as blood. The trail led him to Mr. Mullins, who was unconscious but breathing.

Mr. Besant-Roberts immediately called emergency services. Paramedics arrived shortly after, but Mr. Mullins, from Northwich, Cheshire, was pronounced dead at the scene at 6:50 p.m.

Witnesses described seeing the Volvo traveling at extreme speed and erratically in the moments before and after the crash. One motorist, Katie Woodward, reported seeing a thick, dark trail coming from the passenger side of a vehicle she believed was carrying a body. Another witness, Terry Snowdon, heard a "short sharp thud - metal on metal" and saw the cyclist momentarily leave the ground. A dog walker, Peter Connell, reported hearing a "loud, dragging sound" from a passing black car and saw something "big and flapping" around the front passenger wheel.

The prosecution claims Richardson swerved sharply and deliberately from side to side before mounting a grass verge, where Mr. Mullins was finally dislodged from beneath the Volvo. CCTV footage presented to the jury reportedly shows Mr. Mullins being dragged to his death.

It is alleged that Richardson stopped for about 90 seconds in a country road, during which time Mr. Mullins was still alive according to his watch data. Prosecutors described this as an attempt to abandon the victim rather than offer assistance. Richardson then allegedly drove off again, running over Mr. Mullins at least once more before he was dislodged.

Richardson is accused of driving to a petrol station and later collecting weight-loss medication before going to his cousin Gabrielle Debotte's house. Ms. Debotte, who was reportedly in the car during the incident, later alerted the police.

Richardson subsequently swapped vehicles and was arrested after a police pursuit. He denies murder and an alternative charge of manslaughter, as well as a charge of dangerous driving during the police pursuit on April 21.