A man who spent the afternoon drinking in a pub before getting into his car and deliberately knocking over a cyclist has been convicted of murder.
David Morgan, 40, lost his temper and swerved his Mercedes into Richard Smith after the pair got into a road rage argument on the outer Norwich ring road.
He has been on trial at Norwich Crown Court having denied murder. But a jury convicted him after around four hours of deliberations.
The seven-day trial heard that moments before the crash, Mr Smith, a 50-year-old father-of-three who was riding home from work, had shouted at Morgan who had been trying to overtake and undertake in heavy traffic on Chartwell Road.
Mr Smith had shouted at Morgan in protest and as his Mercedes passed the cyclist, the motorist swerved left and hit the bike causing the rider to go head over heels onto the road.
Morgan then carried on driving and sped off up Mile Cross Lane.
Other motorists stopped and went to the aid of Mr Smith, who worked as UK sales manager for Delta Fire, a major manufacturer of firefighting equipment.
Although he had been wearing a helmet, he suffered serious head injuries. He died in hospital three days later.
During the trial it emerged that Morgan had spent the hours leading up to the crash at the Sole and Heel pub in Rackheath, where he drank at least four points of 5pc Peroni lager.
CCTV footage was shown to the jury showing him dancing in the bar area.
He had then left the pub – which he planned to return to later - to collect his children from school. They were in the car when he crashed into Mr Smith.
After the crash, at around 5pm on May 8, Morgan went to his father’s home, at George Winter Court, around a mile from the scene.
There he was recorded on a neighbour’s CCTV system having a phone call in which he said: "I've swerved at him, knocked him off, he's moved into the kerb and f*****g went flying."
He added: "No c***s going to hit my car."
The jury of nine women and three men were sent out to consider verdicts in the case at 11.33am on Wednesday.
They returned guilty verdicts in the case at just before 3.50pm.
Morgan, of George Winter Court, had pleaded guilty to manslaughter at the start of the trial.
Wearing a cream jumper and white shirt, he showed little emotion and appeared to look up momentarily towards the ceiling as the verdict was read out.
There were quiet gasps from those representing Mr Smith – including his father – in the public gallery.
Judge Alice Robinson, who said this case was "not easy" thanked the jury and adjourned sentencing until November 30.
THE ARREST
The collision occurred at about 5.10pm after which Morgan drove in to Mile Cross.
A witness to the crash was able to give police his registration number and he was arrested on Bignold Road shortly after 7pm.
In police footage, he can be heard telling the arresting officers: "Oh, that f*****g idiot".
"Yes, he’s punched my wing mirror and fell off.
"He hit my wing mirror, he fell off his bike and I carried on driving."
Morgan failed a roadside test for alcohol and was found to have 57mcgs in 100mls of breath. The legal limit is 35.
He gave evidence in his defence and claimed he had not meant to hurt Mr Smith, only to “wind him up”.
Speaking after verdicts in the case, Detective Inspector Sam Pontin, Senior Investigating Officer, said: “Richard was a much-loved husband, father, and friend whose life was tragically cut short by a deliberate act. Our thoughts remain with his family, who have shown remarkable dignity throughout this investigation and trial.
“The evidence presented to the jury demonstrated that Morgan intentionally used his vehicle as a weapon following a moment of road rage. Even in the aftermath of the collision, he showed little concern for Richard’s welfare and instead sought to blame the victim for what had happened.
“We welcome today's verdict, which reflects the seriousness of Morgan's actions. While no outcome can undo the devastating loss suffered by Richard's family, we hope this verdict provides them with some measure of justice.”
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