Murder trial continues following death of four-year-old Peter Maughan in Southfleet
The mum of Peter Maughan - the four-year-old boy allegedly murdered by an uncle and cousin in a high-speed hit-and-run - sent a series of voice notes shortly before the fatal smash, saying in one that she "knew they wouldn't stop". Maidstone Crown Court heard today (February 3) that Hayley Maughan was in frequent contact with her mother as the Ford Ranger Wildtrak in which she was the front seat passenger was being chased along the A2 London-bound on the evening of Sunday, June 1, last year.
Also in the vehicle with her were husband Lovell Mahon, who was driving, and their two children, Peter and one-year-old daughter Annarica seated behind them. Tailing them was a Ford Ranger driven by her cousin Owen Maughan, 27, with his father Patrick, 54, as front seat passenger.
The court heard the family of four had been heading home from a visit to Pepe's restaurant in Maidstone High Street when the two vehicles came together "by chance" on the A2, having both joined the M2 at Blue Bell Hill within five minutes of each other shortly after 9pm. By then, Owen and Patrick Maughan had been drinking alcohol for more than six hours in Rochester High Street's Jolly Knight pub and City Wall wine bar.
CCTV footage showed Patrick consuming as many as 13 pints of lager and Owen having 12 bottles, mostly of Peroni, before they drove off from Almon Place car park, heading up Star Hill and towards the M2. Although it is not known where the pursuit began, by approximately 9.20pm it was being captured on dashcam by three lorries.
Played in court and starting from the A2 junction with Shorne and Cobham, it showed both pickup trucks intermittently braking heavily and pulling up alongside each other as they travelled along the four-lane carriageway.
Hayley Maughan filmed some of the pursuit and in numerous voice notes sent to her mum, Erica Maughan, she could be heard telling her "Told you they haven't stopped", followed by "I knew they wouldn't."
Just two minutes before the fatal crash occurred, she added: "He's still following". In one video clip sent to her mum and showing Owen and Patrick's truck behind them, Hayley remarked: "Look, he's still doing it." Erica, in turn, could be heard in her voice messages asking her daughter's whereabouts and saying "drive on".
At around the same time, it is the prosecution case that a call was made by Owen to Hayley's brother, Jason Maughan, in which he threatened to "ram" the Ford Ranger.
Less than two minutes later at approximately 9.26pm, he had done so having used his vehicle "as a weapon", say the prosecution, and the call to Jason Maughan disconnected. Hayley, Lovell and their two children were just over a mile from their home in Brakefield Road, Southfleet, when their Ranger was "clipped at considerable speed", causing it to spin out of control and roll up to three times before coming to a rest upright and facing a hedge. Peter, who was thrown from the truck and suffered "severe and devastating" injuries to his head, chest and abdomen, was pronounced dead at nearby Darent Valley Hospital shortly after 10pm.
While his mum and sister escaped with what were said to be minor injuries, his dad, then 24, suffered multiple fractures and brain trauma leaving him unlikely to ever walk again.
At the start of the trial on Monday, prosecutor Richard Jory KC told the court that "for reasons that weren't and aren't clear", by the time the relatives' paths had crossed that evening, Owen and Patrick Maughan were "in a fury".
While Owen was the one at the wheel and responsible for the manner of driving, it is the Crown's case he was being "actively encouraged" by his father. 
The pair, of Hill Rise, Darenth, each deny murder. While Patrick also denies manslaughter in respect of the little boy's killing, Owen has pleaded guilty to that offence and accepts he deliberately rammed the truck.
He has also admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving and inflicting GBH in respect of Lovell Mahon, but denies causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to Lovell Mahon, as well as two offences of attempting to cause GBH with intent in respect of Annarica Maughan and Hayley Maughan.
As well as denying murder and manslaughter, Patrick Maughan has also pleaded not guilty to causing Peter's death by dangerous driving and three offences in respect of Mr Mahon, namely causing GBH with intent, inflicting GBH and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Maughan Snr also denies two offences of causing GBH with intent in relation to Annarica and Hayley Maughan.
The trial continues.
References
- ^ Truck used 'as a weapon' in crash that killed four-year-old boy (www.kentonline.co.uk)