A motorist who drove into a cyclist, trapping him under his car and dragging him for over a mile, before briefly attempting to dislodge him and then driving on, has been found guilty of murder and faces life in prison.
Michael Mullins, a headteacher at Stretford grammar school, was cycling home through the village Warburton, Greater Manchester, on 20 April 2026 when he was struck by motorist Simon Richardson, who had driven through ‘give way’ markings at a junction on Paddock Lane before hitting the cyclist.
Mullins, a 56-year-old father-of-two, landed on the bonnet of Richardson’s Volvo XC90 before falling under the car, become entangled into the 4×4’s suspension. At Manchester Minshull Street crown court, prosecutors argued that the 35-year-old motorist was aware that Mullins, still alive at the time, was trapped under his vehicle but continued to drive on.
“Simon Richardson knew he was there and he inevitably knew what the consequences of driving on would be, and he did it anyway,” Phil Barnes KC said in court.
“For a split second after the collision, for a brief moment he possibly thought about doing the right thing and getting out and taking ownership of what he had just done and help the man he had just run down.
“But Simon Richardson did not get out. He did not do the right thing. He chose to drive away. The obvious reason is because he wanted to escape the consequences of what he had just done.”
Richardson’s cousin, Gabrielle Debotte, who was travelling with him in the car at the time, told prosecutors that she could hear “moaning” as they fled the scene, with the driver then telling her: “He’s under the car”.
The 35-year-old then stopped in a secluded rural lane in Wet Gate Lane, Lymm, 1.3 miles away from the scene of the crash. There, he twice exited his car and attempted to pull Mullins out from under the car.
After failing to do so, he returned to the car, veering sharply from side to side and mounting a grass verge, at which point Mr Mullins was finally dislodged. Richardson then reversed over the stricken cyclist, causing “crushing” chest injuries, before fleeing the scene.
According to the prosecution, the majority of Mullins’ injuries were caused by “dragging and crushing”, rather than the initial impact of the crash itself.
Mr Mullins was found when a motorcyclist followed a trail of blood stretching from Paddock Lane to the farm track where he was left, the rider discovering the cyclist barely breathing on the grass verge. Emergency services were called, but Mullins died at the scene from his injuries.
The court was shown footage of Richardson putting petrol in his car shortly after leaving the cyclist for dead, while dashcam footage showed him driving erratically and overtaking other motorists in the moments before the crash.
Richardson was arrested the following day, after a police chase that took place when he tried to evade officers, first in a van and then on foot.
The 35-year-old denied murder, claiming that he did not realise Mullins was underneath the vehicle and that he did not attempt to get out of the car to free him.
On Friday morning, however, Richardson was found guilty of murder, to shouts of “yes!” from the court’s public gallery. Judge Mrs Justice Brunner KC told Richardson that there was only one sentence for murder, life imprisonment, the BBC reports.
He was also found guilty of a separate dangerous driving charge, for driving at speed through residential streets in Failsworth, Oldham as he was pursued by police the day after the murder.
He will be sentenced on Monday.
Discharging the jurors from taking jury service again for 10 years, the judge told them: “This was, I know, an upsetting case and there was evidence which you may have found distressing.”
Explaining the decision to pursue what is a rare murder charge for a fatal road collision, Rebecca Macaulay-Addison, Specialist Prosecutor, said: “Michael Mullins should still be here with his family. Simon Richardson’s actions have robbed them of a future together.
“Richardson carried on driving after hitting Mr Mullins with his car and did so knowing Mr Mullins was trapped beneath his car. His decision to continue driving, knowing death or really serious injury was virtually foreseeable, led us to pursue a conviction of murder rather than causing death by dangerous driving.
“We were determined to secure justice for Mr Mullins’s family, and the jury’s verdict holds Richardson accountable for taking his life.
“No verdict can bring Mr Mullins back or ease the pain of his family, the Stretford Grammar School community and the pupils he taught. My thoughts remain with them all as they come to terms with his loss.”
In a statement, Mr Mullins’ family said: “He was devoted to his family and our lives will never be the same. A gap has been left in our hearts and within his role as a headteacher of Stretford grammar school.”
3 thoughts on “Killer motorist who drove into cyclist and knowingly dragged him under his car for over a mile, leaving a trail of blood, found guilty of murder”
In his closing speech to jurors on Tuesday, Jaime Hamilton KC, defending, said: “You are likely to hold Simon Richardson in contempt. That contempt may well manifest itself in a loathing of Simon Richardson and, in fairness, you are probably right to.
Because it is right that we acknowledge it was the actions of Simon Richardson that led to the death of Michael Mullins.
Not only is he responsible for the death of Michael Mullins, he acted in the most selfish of ways with one thought in his mind – himself.
But that does not make him guilty of the homicide offences on this indictment.” (emphasis mine)
what a piece of shit.
@the infamous grouse no. It’s what defence lawyers do. He’s doing his job.
This case hinged not on whether the driving was bad at the point of collision, but whether the driver knew the poor victim was trapped afterwards, and knew that continuing to drive would cause him further severe harm.
@the little onion the level of self-deception required to honestly and truthfully attempt such an argument seems in opposition of service to the crown.