A father and son ‘downed 25 beers’ before ramming into a car in a road chase crash that killed their four-year-old cousin, a court has heard.
Owen Maughan, 27, and Patrick Maughan, 54, are accused of the murder of Peter Maughan, who died on June 1, last year.
The pair had been drinking in the Jolly Knight pub and City Wall wine bar in Rochester, Kent – with the jury hearing Owen had around 12 bottles of beers and Patrick had roughly 13.
They then embarked on a journey down the A2 motorway during which they saw Owen’s cousin, Hayley, travelling in a second pick-up truck with her partner, Lovell Mahon, who was driving.
Hayley and Mr Mahon’s children, Peter, four, and his then one-year-old sister, Annarica Maughan, were also in the vehicle.
Prosecutor Richard Jory KC told the jury at Maidstone Crown Court: ‘For reasons that weren’t and aren’t clear, Owen and Patrick were or became very angry and seemingly expressed that anger towards the occupants of the vehicle.’
As the father and son, from Darenth in Kent, shouted abuse, Owen’s driving became erratic, the jury heard, with the pair chasing the family for several miles down the A2 motorway.
Peter Maughan, right, and his father Lovell Mahon, left, were in the same vehicle when it crashed
Owen Maughan, 27, and Patrick Maughan, 54, are accused of the murder of Peter Maughan (pictured), who died on June 1, last year
Patrick Maughan, 54, is pictured outside court. Maughan disputes encouraging or assisting his son
Hayley filmed video clips of the pair following them, leaving a voice note for her mother Erica in which she said she was afraid.
Referencing both pick-up trucks leaving the A2 at Pepper Hill near Northfleet, Mr Jory said: ‘Whatever the reason Owen and Patrick were clearly, we would say, in a fury.
‘Very angry at the occupants of Lovell’s vehicle.’
While on the slip road, Mr Mahon said there were children in the car and offered to go to the Maughans’ house to resolve the situation, Mr Jory said.
As the chase continued, Owen called Hayley’s brother Jason on the phone to say that he was going to ram the other truck, jurors were told.
Owen drove into the wrong lane and clipped the back of the car at 60mph, the court heard.
The family’s truck then rolled over and Patrick and Owen Maughan drove off, pausing so that Patrick could pull the registration plate off the truck.
Mr Jory said it was the prosecution’s view that the case is ‘slightly unusual’ – but argued it is a case of murder, which was denied by the defendants.
Peter is pictured (C). Hayley and Mr Mahon’s children, Peter, and his then one-year-old sister, Annarica Maughan, were in the vehicle
Owen Maughan has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Maughan, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Peter and his father are pictured
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Owen Maughan has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Peter Maughan, and causing serious injury by dangerous driving and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Mr Mahon.
Mr Jory said: ‘It means Owen accepts he deliberately rammed the other vehicle, and he accepts he drove his vehicle dangerously.
‘He disputes he intended to cause any injury to any of the occupants.’
Mr Jory added Patrick Maughan disputes encouraging or assisting his son and that the main issue in the case will be the pair’s state of mind at the time of the incident.
