Man 'murdered trying to stop theft of his car' - court

A man who disturbed a burglar at his home was killed when he tried to stop him driving off in his car, a court has heard.

Marc Allen, 50, discovered the alleged intruder, Errol Woodger, at his property in Erith, south-east London in the early hours of 29 December 2019.

Mr Woodger then allegedly snatched the keys to Mr Allen's Mercedes car and drove off, the Old Bailey was told on Tuesday.

When Mr Allen tried to stop the theft, the car was used "as a weapon" to run him over, prosecutor Anthony Orchard KC told the court. Mr Woodger, 38, of Belvedere, south-east London, denies Mr Allen's murder and robbing him of his car.

Neighbours found Mr Allen on the road with a severe head injury, from which he died a month later, having never regained consciousness.

Jurors were told that Mr Allen's lower right leg was amputated as a result of a previous illness and he used a prosthetic limb.

His car, a grey Mercedes GLA, had been supplied by a Motability Car Scheme and was parked in the forecourt at the time it was stolen.

Mr Orchard told jurors that Mr Allen had been in his ground floor flat on Peareswood Road, Erith when a man was spotted on CCTV outside.

The man climbed over a low wall and got onto a neighbouring unoccupied flat through a window, the prosecutor said.

Mr Orchard said the victim appeared to be watching television or sleeping when he became aware of someone leaving the nearby flat or in the communal hallway.

He must have put on his prosthetic leg before going to the front door, he said.

Mr Orchard said: "Within minutes, Marc Allen's Mercedes was being stolen. His car keys had been taken. You can be sure he wouldn't have handed them over voluntarily."

Neighbour Linda Rumsey allegedly heard shouts of "That's my car. You aren't taking my car", and saw Mr Allen standing by the back of the car on the driveway.

The car engine revved several times and Mr Allen may have suffered a "glancing blow" as the vehicle reversed quickly out of the parking spot, jurors were told.

Mr Allen then stood in the middle of the road with his hands up and saying: "That's my car", jurors were told.

Seconds later, the car was seen to rev forward "at speed" and hit Mr Allen who made contact with the bonnet and went over the roof, jurors heard.

Ms Rumsey recalled: "He slid down the back of the boot and his head went bang when it hit the floor, I heard his head crack, it sent a shiver through me."

Emergency services were called at 02:53 GMT and Mr Allen was taken to King's College Hospital where he died on 29 January 2020.

Jurors were told his stolen Mercedes was found by police two days after it was taken, on a driveway on the Isle of Dogs in east London.

The trial continues.

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