Full Breakdown
Trial of Simon Richardson over the death of headteacher Michael Mullins
By Drooid · · How we work
Core Event
On April 20, 2024, Michael Mullins, 56, was cycling home from Stretford Grammar School when he was struck by a black Volvo XC90 driven by Simon Richardson, 35. Prosecutors allege Richardson failed to stop, continued driving while Mullins remained trapped beneath the vehicle, and dragged him for more than a mile before the victim was found dead on a grass verge in Lymm, Cheshire.
Background & Context
Mullins had been headteacher of Stretford Grammar School for 17 years and routinely cycled a 19-mile route home. Richardson, of no fixed address, was charged with murder, manslaughter and dangerous driving. The case is being heard at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
Timeline
- April 20 – Collision on Paddock Lane; emergency services attend; Mullins pronounced dead at 6:50 p.m.
- October 13 – The murder trial begins, with opening statements.
Data & Statistics
- Police speed estimates: 65.8 mph before the junction, 55.1 mph shortly after, and 42–43.3 mph in a 30 mph zone.
- The Volvo travelled approximately 2.2 km (about 1.3 miles) with Mullins underneath.
- The vehicle stopped for roughly 90 seconds on Wet Gate Lane, during which Richardson allegedly exited twice to attempt to free Mullins.
Official Statements & Responses
Prosecutor Philip Barnes KC told the jury that Richardson “must have known” he was dragging Mullins and that the death resulted from being “dragged and crushed” rather than the initial impact. Police Constable David Noonan testified that road debris and tyre marks indicated the car ran over the cyclist and that the vehicle’s movement after the stop was consistent with a person being under the wheels. Richardson has denied all charges and offered no comment.
On-the-Ground Reports
Witnesses described the Volvo as “extremely fast” and “erratically weaving” before the collision. Motorcyclist Andrew Beasant-Roberts followed a blood trail for over a mile, found Mullins barely breathing, and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Other witnesses, including Katie Woodward and Peter Connell, reported hearing a loud dragging sound and seeing an object beneath the wheels.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact speed at which Richardson fled: some cite “more than 60 mph,” others give the precise 65.8 mph estimate. The distance dragged is reported as both 1.3 miles and 2.2 km, reflecting the same measurement with different precision. No forensic evidence has been publicly released to confirm the exact number of times the car ran over the victim.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Simon Richardson did not stop to see if the man he had just ploughed into was okay,” — Mr Barnes
- “No, Mr Mullins died not from the initial collision, but from the time he spent being dragged under this defendant's car, when this defendant knew he was there, and then ejected and crushed by its wheels,” — Mr Barnes