Jury deliberating in Matthew Weller murder trial

Jurors have retired to consider whether a Lancashire driver who admits killing a man with his car is guilty of murder.

Muhammed Haarith, 23, pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of 44-year-old Matthew Weller, who was struck by a VW Passat in Accrington town centre after 22:00 BST on 22 April.

The jury at Preston Crown Court must decide whether Haarith intended to kill Weller or cause him really serious harm during the incident, making him guilty of murder.

Judge Robert Altham sent jurors out to begin deliberations following a four-day trial and closing speeches from prosecution and defence lawyers.

The prosecution alleges Haarith deliberately drove at Weller after becoming angry during an encounter in Blackburn Road.

Jurors heard Weller shouted at Haarith and his friends before pulling down his trousers and rubbing his bare buttocks on the bonnet of the defendant's Volkswagen Passat.

Prosecutor Tim Evans KC said Haarith then chose to turn the wheel and drive over the victim, dragging him beneath the car.

He told the court the defendant's actions afterwards, including destroying his mobile phone, dropping it into a gutter and concealing the car, showed "calculation to look after himself" rather than panic.

The prosecution has also relied on Snapchat videos from an earlier incident involving Weller, which it says demonstrate Haarith's "contempt" for the victim.

The defence said the Snapchat videos amounted to "childish conduct" and did not show Haarith intended to kill Weller or cause him serious harm.

Barrister Christopher Moran told jurors the evidence was more consistent with manslaughter than murder and that there was "no smoking gun" proving the defendant's state of mind.

He said Haarith had accepted responsibility for unlawfully killing Weller, handing himself in to police the following day and admitting he had been the driver.

The court heard Haarith denied intending to kill or seriously injure Weller, but continued driving out of "panic" because he did not want the vehicle's wheels to remain on top of him.

Summing up the case, Judge Robert Altham reminded jurors Haarith had no previous convictions or cautions and was entitled to be treated as a man of previous good character.

He said the key question was whether the prosecution had proved, so that they were sure, that Haarith intended to kill Weller or cause him really serious harm.

The jury retired shortly after 15:00 BST and will resume its deliberations at 10:00 BST on Friday. No verdicts have yet been returned.

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