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PC Dave Phillips had 'no chance' after being hit by truck | PC Dave Phillips had 'no chance' after being hit by truck |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A teenager ran over and killed a police officer with a stolen truck in a "cowardly and merciless act", Manchester Crown Court has heard. | A teenager ran over and killed a police officer with a stolen truck in a "cowardly and merciless act", Manchester Crown Court has heard. |
PC Dave Phillips died in October when a pick-up vehicle mounted a central reservation in Wallasey, Merseyside. | PC Dave Phillips died in October when a pick-up vehicle mounted a central reservation in Wallasey, Merseyside. |
Clayton Williams, 19, gave PC Phillips "no chance", hitting the officer as he tried to stop the truck with a tyre-puncturing device, the court was told. | Clayton Williams, 19, gave PC Phillips "no chance", hitting the officer as he tried to stop the truck with a tyre-puncturing device, the court was told. |
Mr Williams claims he did not intend to injure the officer and denies murder. | Mr Williams claims he did not intend to injure the officer and denies murder. |
Read live updates on this story and more from across Merseyside. | Read live updates on this story and more from across Merseyside. |
The 34-year-old officer, a father of two, was deploying a stinger device to end a high-speed police pursuit. | The 34-year-old officer, a father of two, was deploying a stinger device to end a high-speed police pursuit. |
He was responding with a colleague to reports of a burglary in Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead, in the early hours of 5 October. | He was responding with a colleague to reports of a burglary in Woodchurch Road, Birkenhead, in the early hours of 5 October. |
Fellow officers tried to save PC Phillips' life but he died shortly after arriving at hospital. | Fellow officers tried to save PC Phillips' life but he died shortly after arriving at hospital. |
'Determined and ruthless' | 'Determined and ruthless' |
Ian Unsworth QC, for the prosecution, said Mr Williams, then 18, of Wallasey, and another man, 30-year-old Philip Stuart, of Prenton, Wirral, had burgled a shop in Birkenhead, stealing the keys to the Mitsubishi. | Ian Unsworth QC, for the prosecution, said Mr Williams, then 18, of Wallasey, and another man, 30-year-old Philip Stuart, of Prenton, Wirral, had burgled a shop in Birkenhead, stealing the keys to the Mitsubishi. |
The truck was spotted by an unmarked police vehicle and the officers gave chase, shortly joined by another patrol car which recorded the pursuit. | The truck was spotted by an unmarked police vehicle and the officers gave chase, shortly joined by another patrol car which recorded the pursuit. |
Mr Williams drove at "vastly excessive speeds", Mr Unsworth said, along narrow residential roads, through red lights and on the wrong side of the road. | Mr Williams drove at "vastly excessive speeds", Mr Unsworth said, along narrow residential roads, through red lights and on the wrong side of the road. |
He struck a parked car during the chase in a "determined and ruthless attempt to avoid being apprehended". | He struck a parked car during the chase in a "determined and ruthless attempt to avoid being apprehended". |
He said PC Phillips was "simply trying to bring the stolen vehicle to a controlled stop". | He said PC Phillips was "simply trying to bring the stolen vehicle to a controlled stop". |
But instead of driving over the device, Mr Williams drove off the road at his victim, the jury heard. | But instead of driving over the device, Mr Williams drove off the road at his victim, the jury heard. |
Mr Unsworth said: "The officer was, as you will see from the film recording, clearly visible, and, we suggest, had been for some distance beforehand. | Mr Unsworth said: "The officer was, as you will see from the film recording, clearly visible, and, we suggest, had been for some distance beforehand. |
"As events unfolded he stood little or no chance. | "As events unfolded he stood little or no chance. |
"Once the truck was a very short distance from the officer, the defendant turned it sharply to the left. | "Once the truck was a very short distance from the officer, the defendant turned it sharply to the left. |
"It was, you may think, a cowardly and merciless act." | "It was, you may think, a cowardly and merciless act." |
After hitting PC Phillips, he drove back on to the road in the direction of a second officer, PC Thomas Birkett, who had to leap out of the way, the court heard. | After hitting PC Phillips, he drove back on to the road in the direction of a second officer, PC Thomas Birkett, who had to leap out of the way, the court heard. |
Mr Williams denies a second count of attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent in relation to PC Birkett. | |
He has admitted the burglary in which the car was stolen and aggravated vehicle taking. | He has admitted the burglary in which the car was stolen and aggravated vehicle taking. |
The trial continues. | The trial continues. |