Innocent man 'killed by revenge seeker'

An innocent Staffordshire father was killed in "a deliberate piece of murderous driving" by a motorist out of control and out for revenge, jurors were told.

Christopher Hatfield was hit by a Volkswagen Golf, driven by Ashley Lunn, which had mounted the pavement in Market Street, Hednesford. The victim's head smashed through the windscreen but Lunn did not stop, it is alleged.

The 20-year-old carried Mr Hatfield along on the bonnet before "dumping him in the gutter", Stafford Crown Court was told yesterday.

Mr Hatfield, 39, of Chadsmoor, died from massive head injuries.

Lunn, of Sandpiper Close, Hednesford, denies murdering Mr Hatfield on October 18 last year.

Mr Christopher Millington QC, prosecuting, alleged Lunn deliberately drove at a group of pedestrians, which happened to include Mr Hatfield, in revenge for being beaten up earlier on.

He said: "This was no momentary loss of control of the car. This was a quite deliberate act, we say. The defendant made no attempt to change his line, no attempt to slow down, he simply mounted the pavement.

"There was a terrific bang as he struck the deceased head-on. He carried on with his victim on top of the car and he dumped him in the gutter."

Mr Millington said the chain of events had started earlier in the evening when Lunn was assaulted by a group of young men – Adam Evens, Gavin Evans and John Stanley.

Lunn brooded for a while about his beating before going out in his car "looking for revenge", it was claimed.

He was stripped to the waist and armed with a kitchen knife, which he jabbed into the dashboard of the car, and he drove around looking for his attackers, the court was told.

He saw a group of pedestrians – among them Adam Evans and Mr Hatfield, who just happened to be walking with them and knew no-thing about the attack.

Most of the group took evasive action, but Mr Hatfield was "oblivious to the danger" as the Golf mounted the pavement.

The trial is continuing.