Driver convicted of murdering headteacher he dragged under car

Summarised from 7 outlets · 8 reports · Updated 30 Oct, 16:37 · Archive

Simon Richardson has been found guilty of murdering headteacher Michael Mullins after driving over a mile with the cyclist trapped beneath his Volvo XC90.

Simon Richardson, 35, has been convicted of murdering headteacher Michael Mullins, 56, who was struck by Richardson's Volvo XC90 as he cycled home from Stretford Grammar School in Greater Manchester on 20 April. The collision happened at a junction in Warburton where Richardson drove through give-way markings and into Mullins's path.

After striking Mullins, who fell onto the bonnet and windscreen, the cyclist became entangled in the suspension of the four-by-four vehicle. Rather than stopping, Richardson drove on for more than a mile at up to 60mph, leaving a trail of blood to a grass verge on Wet Gate Lane in Lymm, Cheshire. Prosecutors told Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court that Richardson was aware Mullins was trapped inches below his feet shortly after the collision.

The prosecution counsel, Phil Barnes KC, told jurors: 'Simon Richardson knew he was there and he inevitably knew what the consequences of driving on would be, and he did it anyway.' He continued: '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 front seat passenger, his cousin Gabrielle Debotte, told the trial that both heard 'moaning' from outside as he drove away from the collision scene. The court heard Richardson attempted to dislodge Mullins by mounting a grass verge before driving over him again, inflicting 'crushing' chest injuries. Richardson then stopped to refuel his damaged car and collect weight-loss medication, according to reports.

Richardson denied murder, claiming he did not realise Mullins was underneath his car and that he did not get out of the vehicle in a bid to free him. The jury found him guilty of both murder and dangerous driving. Judge Mrs Justice Brunner told Richardson that there is only one sentence for murder: life imprisonment. He will return to Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court on Monday for sentencing, at which point the judge will set the minimum term he must serve before becoming eligible for parole.

Mullins, a father of two, had been a 'brilliant' and 'transformative' leader at Stretford Grammar School for 17 years. His widow released a statement saying her life had been 'brutally and callously torn apart' and that Michael was 'irreplaceable' to family, friends and the school. Family members in the public gallery were in tears after the guilty verdict was returned.

How it is being reported

• Widow says life was 'callously torn apart' after husband was dragged under carSimon Richardson was found guilty of murdering Michael Mullins after driving more than a mile with the cyclist under his carThe Independent · 30 Oct, 16:14
• Wife of headteacher dragged a mile under car says her life has been ‘torn apart’Michael Mullins was struck by a Volvo XC90 driven by Simon Richardson as he cycled home from Stretford Grammar School on April 20.Evening Standard · 30 Oct, 15:29
• Driver murdered headteacher by mowing down and dragging cyclist under car for mileSimon Richardson has been found guilty of murder after mowing down cyclist, Michael Mullins, headteacher of Stretford Grammar School, and then dragging him along under his carThe Mirror · 30 Oct, 14:16
• Motorist who dragged cyclist under car for more than a mile convicted of murderSimon Richardson claimed he did not know headteacher Michael Mullins was under his wheels, but his passenger gave evidence against him.Evening Standard · 30 Oct, 13:51
• Driver guilty of murder after dragging headteacher more than a mile to his deathTo view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Up Next Previous Page Next Page A 4×4 driver who hit a headteacher cycling home from school and deliberately drove on for more than a mile knowing he was trapped under the wheels has been…Metro · 30 Oct, 12:33
• Man who ran over cyclist and dragged him under car for a mile convicted of murderSimon Richardson knew headteacher Michael Mullins was under his 4×4 as he kept driving in Manchester, jury heard A motorist who mowed down a cyclist and dragged him under his car for more than a mile has been found guilty of murder. Headteacher Michael Mullins, 56, was travelling home from Stretford grammar school in Manchester in the early evening of 20 April this year when he was struck by a Volvo XC90 driven by Simon Richardson. Continue reading...Guardian World · 30 Oct, 12:28
• Murderer dragged head teacher to his death in carSimon Richardson, 35, is convicted of murdering head teacher Michael Mullins, 56, following a trial.BBC News · 30 Oct, 12:09
• Killer driver who mowed down 'uniquely talented' headteacher in two-ton SUV and dragged him for over a mile convicted of his murderSimon Richardson, 35, who had just been released from prison, was described by witnesses as 'tanking it' as he sped through a junction in Altrincham, in Greater Manchester, on April 20.Daily Mail · 30 Oct, 11:54

In this story: Simon Richardson · Michael Mullins · Stretford Grammar School · Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court · Greater Manchester · Warburton · Phil Barnes · Gabrielle Debotte

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem · Corrections log