One of two men accused of murdering four-year-old Peter Maughan in a high-speed hit-and-run was found by police drunk in bed, a court has heard.
Patrick Maughan was arrested at his sister’s home in Berkshire two days after the smash on New Barn Road, Southfleet, in which the youngster was killed and his father seriously injured.
Having forced entry, officers wearing body-worn cameras captured the moment they were greeted by the shirtless, heavily intoxicated 54-year-old under a floral duvet.
Having then been handcuffed and cautioned on suspicion of murder and three offences of attempted murder, he seemingly lied about not having a phone.
Jurors have been told that on the evening of June 1 last year Patrick Maughan had been the front seat passenger in a Ford Ranger Wildtrak being driven by his son Owen, 27, when it deliberately rammed a second Wildtrak at 60mph, causing it to lose control and roll up to three times.
In that 4×4 truck sitting in the back seat was Peter with his dad, Lovell Mahon, behind the wheel, mum Hayley Maughan in the front seat and one-year-old sister, Annarica, also in the rear.
Peter, who was thrown from the vehicle after impact, suffered severe and devastating injuries and was pronounced dead at Darent Valley Hospital in Dartford just 30 minutes later.
Maidstone Crown Court has heard that even with immediate medical care, he would not have survived.
While his mum and sister escaped with minor injuries, his dad sustained multiple fractures and brain trauma, leaving him unlikely to walk again.
He also cannot remember the incident and has not been able to give a statement to police.
It is the prosecution’s case that by the time of the collision, the defendants, who are related to Hayley Maughan, were “in a fury”.
After their vehicles came together by chance on the A2 Londonbound, the family’s Ford Ranger was chased for approximately five minutes before exiting at the Pepperhill junction shortly before 9.30pm.
Following a brief and angry encounter at the roundabout, in which Mr Mahon shouted there were “children in the motor”, Owen is alleged to have used his vehicle as a weapon while being “actively encouraged” by his dad.
Peter’s mum later told police that Patrick Maughan – her uncle by marriage – had been “revving up” the situation and making it “10 times worse”.
In the aftermath of the fatal smash, Owen and Patrick Maughan, who that afternoon and evening had drunk as many as 25 bottles or pints of lager between them in Rochester, drove off.
The jury was told they stopped briefly in Longfield for Maughan Snr to pull the front number plate off their damaged truck before continuing their journey past their home in Hill Rise, Darenth, and on to Plantation Road in Hextable, where the vehicle was abandoned.
Still wedged under the chassis was one of the children’s pushchairs that had fallen from the rear of Mr Mahon’s Ranger during the incident.
Owen Maughan was arrested the next day, also on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, having gone to Medway police station with his mum and handed himself in.
Jurors heard he was “calm but a little bit emotional” and co-operated with officers.
But it was not until 12.40am on June 3 that his dad was traced to the property in Maidenhead in Berkshire and arrested.
The footage, played in court, showed him putting his hands up as officers entered the bedroom.
He also nodded in response to the explanation given for his arrest on suspicion of the murder of Peter Maughan and the attempted murders of Lovell Mahon, Hayley Maughan and Annarica Maughan.
Then, as he is asked by police about any belongings he has, including a phone, he replied: “I haven’t got a phone.”
Despite his response, officers later found one attributable to him in the kitchen, the court was told.
However, the PIN was not provided and police have not been able to access it.
The arresting officer also told the jury that Patrick Maughan was “very obviously drunk”, with his breath smelling “very strongly” of intoxicants.
Read more:
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When asked how much he had had to drink, he told them: “A lot.”
The court also heard that although police forced entry, it was not because anyone had refused to let them in.
In interview, he mostly answered “No comment” aside from giving two prepared statements.
In the first, he stated: “I was simply a passenger in the car and it was my intention to go home.
“I had no intention or joint intention to cause anyone serious harm or death.”
In his second, he again reiterated he was the passenger in his son’s vehicle, before adding: “I did not plan, conspire or agree to cause anyone serious harm or death to any other person.”
Owen Maughan also answered “no comment” when questioned.
Although father and son were initially arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, the jury has been told Owen is now on trial accused of the murder of Peter Maughan, causing grievous bodily harm (GBH) with intent to Lovell Mahon and attempting to cause GBH with intent to both Annarica Maughan and Hayley Maughan.
Patrick Maughan faces eight charges – murder and manslaughter in respect of Peter, causing the youngster’s death by dangerous driving, three offences in respect of Mr Mahon, namely causing GBH with intent, inflicting GBH and causing serious injury by dangerous driving, and two of attempting to cause GBH with intent to Annarica and Hayley Maughan.
Jurors have also been told that Owen has pleaded guilty to manslaughter, as well as causing serious injury by dangerous driving and inflicting GBH in respect of Lovell Mahon.
The case continues.
