A DAD and son killed a four-year-old cousin in a 60mph crash after chasing his mum “in a fury”, a court heard.
Patrick Maughan, 54, and Owen Maughan, 27, are accused of murdering Peter Maughan in Dartford, Kent.
The pair had downed a total of 25 beers at two pubs in Rochester, Kent, before the horror smash, jurors heard.
Maidstone Crown Court was told Owen then got behind the wheel of a Ford Ranger pick-up truck on June 1 last year.
While the dad and son were travelling on the A2, they saw Owen’s cousin Hayley in a second pick-up truck being driven by her partner Lovell Mahon.
The couple’s children Peter, four, and one-year-old Annarica Maughan were also in the vehicle at the time.
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Prosecutor Richard Jory KC said: “For reasons that weren’t and aren’t clear, Owen and Patrick were or became very angry and seemingly expressed that anger towards the occupants of the vehicle.”
The court heard that as the dad and son hurled abuse, Owen’s driving became more erratic.
Hayley filmed video clips of the pair chasing them and left a voice note for her mother Erica saying she was afraid.
As both pick-up trucks left the A2, the court heard both Owen and Patrick were still “in a fury” and “very angry at the occupants of Lovell’s vehicle.”
Jurors were told Lovell tried to signal there were children in the car offered to go to the Maughans’ house to resolve the situation.
But the plea was ignored by Owen, who had called Hayley’s brother Jason on the phone to say that he was going to ram the other truck, it is alleged.
The court heard he then drove into the wrong lane and clipped the back of the car at 60mph – causing it to roll over.
Patrick and Owen Maughan drove off – only pausing for the dad to allegedly pull the registration plate off the truck.
The court heard Peter was thrown from the vehicle and died from “severe and devastating injuries” to his head, chest and abdomen.
Lovell had serious injuries including a skull fracture and it is unlikely he will walk again, jurors were told.
Mr Jory said the prosecution case is “slightly unusual” but is a case of murder, which both Patrick and Owen deny.
Owen has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, causing serious injury by dangerous driving and inflicting grievous bodily harm on Lovell.
“It means Owen accepts he deliberately rammed the other vehicle, and he accepts he drove his vehicle dangerously,” Mr Jory said.
“He disputes he intended to cause any injury to any of the occupants.”
Patrick disputes encouraging or assisting his son – with the main issue in the case their state of mind at the time of the incident, jurors heard.
The trial continues.
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