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Road rage murder: Lorry driver Mark Slater guilty of A57 killing | Road rage murder: Lorry driver Mark Slater guilty of A57 killing |
(about 4 hours later) | |
A lorry driver has been convicted of using his 17-tonne truck to murder another motorist. | A lorry driver has been convicted of using his 17-tonne truck to murder another motorist. |
Mark Slater, 47, from Oldham, deliberately drove over the head of grandfather Trevor Allen, 56, from Salford, in a road rage attack. | Mark Slater, 47, from Oldham, deliberately drove over the head of grandfather Trevor Allen, 56, from Salford, in a road rage attack. |
Mr Allen's body was found near his van on the A57 Manchester Road, Rixton, near Warrington, on 15 February. | |
Slater admitted causing the victim's death but told the jury at Chester Crown Court he did not see him. | Slater admitted causing the victim's death but told the jury at Chester Crown Court he did not see him. |
'Rot in hell' | 'Rot in hell' |
The court heard Mr Allen had got out of his Citroen Berlingo van and stood in front of the DAF truck and trailer driven by Slater. | The court heard Mr Allen had got out of his Citroen Berlingo van and stood in front of the DAF truck and trailer driven by Slater. |
Slater made no reaction when he was found guilty. He was remanded in custody and now faces an automatic life sentence. | Slater made no reaction when he was found guilty. He was remanded in custody and now faces an automatic life sentence. |
Members of Mr Allen's family burst into tears in the public gallery as the verdict was delivered. | Members of Mr Allen's family burst into tears in the public gallery as the verdict was delivered. |
Outside court, his eldest sister Muriel Farrell, 62, from Middleton, said of her brother's killer: "I hope he rots in hell, I really do. We were all praying today for that murder verdict." | Outside court, his eldest sister Muriel Farrell, 62, from Middleton, said of her brother's killer: "I hope he rots in hell, I really do. We were all praying today for that murder verdict." |
Widower Mr Allen, a father of three and grandfather of four, was also a truck driver and HGV instructor. | Widower Mr Allen, a father of three and grandfather of four, was also a truck driver and HGV instructor. |
Mrs Farrell said her family believed her brother may have spotted Slater using his phone while driving, which he admitted, shortly before the attack. | Mrs Farrell said her family believed her brother may have spotted Slater using his phone while driving, which he admitted, shortly before the attack. |
He may have indicated to Slater to get off the phone, sparking the fatal confrontation, his family said. | He may have indicated to Slater to get off the phone, sparking the fatal confrontation, his family said. |
'Overtaking session' | 'Overtaking session' |
The defendant had claimed he was involved in an "overtaking session" with Mr Allen, who had thrown coins at the window of his cab. | The defendant had claimed he was involved in an "overtaking session" with Mr Allen, who had thrown coins at the window of his cab. |
Slater, of Hillside Avenue, Oldham, said he simply did not see the victim standing in front of his vehicle. | Slater, of Hillside Avenue, Oldham, said he simply did not see the victim standing in front of his vehicle. |
But Ian Unsworth QC, prosecuting, said Mr Allen was wearing a high visibility jacket and it was "obvious" he was standing in the road. | But Ian Unsworth QC, prosecuting, said Mr Allen was wearing a high visibility jacket and it was "obvious" he was standing in the road. |
He accused Slater of being "a big man behind the wheel" and a "bully" in his lorry. | He accused Slater of being "a big man behind the wheel" and a "bully" in his lorry. |
The court heard the lorry's tachograph showed it braking sharply before the killing and Slater "flooring" it to its maximum 54mph, exceeding the road's 40mph limit. | The court heard the lorry's tachograph showed it braking sharply before the killing and Slater "flooring" it to its maximum 54mph, exceeding the road's 40mph limit. |
Det Insp Peter Case, of Cheshire Police, described the attack as "truly shocking". | Det Insp Peter Case, of Cheshire Police, described the attack as "truly shocking". |
He said: "The injuries sustained by Mr Allen were horrific - whatever had happened between the pair leading up to this incident, nothing justified Slater behaving in the way he did that day." | He said: "The injuries sustained by Mr Allen were horrific - whatever had happened between the pair leading up to this incident, nothing justified Slater behaving in the way he did that day." |
'Raging bull' | 'Raging bull' |
Earlier in the trial, the jury was told of two previous road rage attacks involving Slater. | Earlier in the trial, the jury was told of two previous road rage attacks involving Slater. |
One motorist described him as a "raging bull" on the M62 in January last year and told how the lorry driver had threatened to kill him. | One motorist described him as a "raging bull" on the M62 in January last year and told how the lorry driver had threatened to kill him. |
An incident in Oldham on 17 December was recorded on a "dash cam" and showed Slater leaving his lorry cab on two occasions, running at a car and kicking and punching the vehicle while trying to force the driver's door open. | An incident in Oldham on 17 December was recorded on a "dash cam" and showed Slater leaving his lorry cab on two occasions, running at a car and kicking and punching the vehicle while trying to force the driver's door open. |
The court heard the attack began when Slater tried to cut in at a roundabout after he had got in the wrong lane. | The court heard the attack began when Slater tried to cut in at a roundabout after he had got in the wrong lane. |
The other driver Jordan Ogden, 24, described the prolonged series of events that followed as "like an animal hunt". | The other driver Jordan Ogden, 24, described the prolonged series of events that followed as "like an animal hunt". |
Mr Ogden said: "It looked like he wanted me and he wanted me dead." | Mr Ogden said: "It looked like he wanted me and he wanted me dead." |
The jury at Chester Crown Court convicted Slater following three and a half hours of deliberations at the end of a week-long trial. | The jury at Chester Crown Court convicted Slater following three and a half hours of deliberations at the end of a week-long trial. |