A drunk driver, David Morgan, 40, is accused of deliberately swerving his Mercedes into cyclist Richard Smith, 50, killing him, after an argument ensued over a damaged wing mirror. The incident occurred in Norwich on May 8, with Morgan's two children reportedly in the car.
According to prosecutor Charles Myatt, the collision was a deliberate act by Morgan after Mr. Smith allegedly touched his wing mirror and called him a "d***head." Mr. Smith, a father of three, was cycling home from work when the incident took place. He suffered severe head injuries despite wearing a helmet and died in hospital three days later.
Court proceedings revealed that Morgan had consumed approximately four pints of lager at a pub before picking up his children from primary school around 3 p.m. Witness accounts and CCTV footage suggest Morgan returned to the pub with his children before heading towards Norwich, where the fatal collision occurred shortly after 5 p.m.
A witness driving behind Mr. Smith reported hearing the cyclist shout at the Mercedes driver and observed the Mercedes subsequently swerving left to strike the cyclist. Another witness driving in the opposite direction saw the Mercedes driver gesturing at the cyclist.
Following the collision, Morgan did not stop at the scene. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and later admitted to driving the vehicle. He told police that the cyclist had hit his car and called him a "d***head" while his children were present.
Breathalyzer tests administered after Morgan's arrest showed a blood alcohol level of 57mg per 100ml of breath, exceeding the legal limit of 35mg. CCTV footage from a neighbor's house captured Morgan discussing the incident on the phone, stating, "I swerved into him and went 'Fuck you'... and he's knocked off." The prosecution presented this conversation as clear evidence that Morgan intentionally drove his car into Mr. Smith.
Morgan has pleaded guilty to a second count of manslaughter. The trial is ongoing.