Driver denies murder after cyclist hit in Norwich row

Summarised from 3 outlets · 5 reports · Updated 4 Nov, 10:54 · Archive

David Morgan denies murdering cyclist Richard Smith after allegedly swerving into him on a Norwich road in May.

David Morgan, 40, denies the murder of cyclist Richard Smith, 50, who died three days after being struck by Morgan's Mercedes on Chartwell Road, Norwich in May. Morgan admits manslaughter but denies murder. The collision occurred after Smith, who was cycling home from work, shouted at Morgan for trying to overtake and undertake traffic on the busy road.

Witnesses told Norwich Crown Court that the pair argued when they stopped at a red light. When the light changed, Morgan overtook a car in front and swerved into Smith's direction, sending him flying over his handlebars. Smith was wearing a helmet at the time. The collision caused fatal head injuries.

CCTV footage shown to the jury captured Morgan saying afterwards "I ain't having it, no [expletive] is going to touch my car" and admitting that he had swerved into Smith. The prosecution alleged the altercation began after Smith hit the car's wing mirror.

Prosecutors told the court that Morgan had been drinking during the day before the collision. They said he visited the Sole and Heel pub in Rackheath, where he allegedly drank four pints between 12:30 and 15:00 BST. Morgan then collected his children from primary school in his Mercedes before heading towards the Boundary pub in Norwich to drop them off with his mother.

The court was told that Smith was a father of three. The trial is ongoing, with the jury hearing evidence from a crash investigator.

How it is being reported

• Norwich road rage murder trial jury to hear evidence from crash investigatorWelcome to our coverage of the third day of David Morgan’s murder trial. The 40-year-old Mercedes driver has been accused of murdering cyclist Richard Smith, 50, in Norwich in May this year. Morgan is said to have swerved his vehicle into Mr Smith on Chartwell Road, on the outer Norwich ring road, throwing him over his handlebars into the road and causing fatal head injuries. Norwich Crown Court has heard that moments earlier, Mr Smith - a father of three who was cycling home from work - had shouted at Morgan, who had been trying to overtake and undertake traffic on the busy road.Eastern Daily Press · 4 Nov, 10:45
• Norwich road rage murder trial jury to hear evidence from crash investigatorWelcome to our coverage of the third day of David Morgan’s murder trial. The 40-year-old Mercedes driver has been accused of murdering cyclist Richard Smith, 50, in Norwich in May this year. Morgan is said to have swerved his vehicle into Mr Smith on Chartwell Road, on the outer Norwich ring road, throwing him over his handlebars into the road and causing fatal head injuries. Norwich Crown Court has heard that moments earlier, Mr Smith - a father of three who was cycling home from work - had shouted at Morgan, who had been trying to overtake and undertake traffic on the busy road.Norwich Evening News · 4 Nov, 10:45
• Witnesses to give evidence in Norwich road rage murder trialWelcome to our coverage of day two of David Morgan’s murder trial. The 40-year-old motorist has denied murdering cyclist Richard Smith, 50, in Norwich in May this year. Morgan is said to have swerved his Mercedes car into Mr Smith on Chartwell Road, on the outer Norwich ring road, throwing him over his handlebars into the road and causing fatal head injuries.Eastern Daily Press · 3 Nov, 10:19
• Witnesses to give evidence in Norwich road rage murder trialWelcome to our coverage of day two of David Morgan’s murder trial. The 40-year-old motorist has denied murdering cyclist Richard Smith, 50, in Norwich in May this year. Morgan is said to have swerved his Mercedes car into Mr Smith on Chartwell Road, on the outer Norwich ring road, throwing him over his handlebars into the road and causing fatal head injuries.Norwich Evening News · 3 Nov, 10:19
• Murder trial told motorist swerved at cyclistNorwich Crown Court hears that David Morgan and Richard Smith argued shortly before the collision.BBC Norfolk · 2 Nov, 16:13

In this story: David Morgan · Richard Smith · Norwich Crown Court · Norwich · Chartwell Road

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